Biography
David Edwards - Stage Director
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The stage director David Edwards was born in London. He graduated in Classics from Cambridge University and was engaged by the Royal Opera Covent Garden as an assistant and then Staff Director. Here David had the opportunity to work with renowned directors such as Götz Friedrich, Richard Jones, Elijah Moshinsky, John Cox, Trevor Nunn and Jonathan Miller. He directed revivals and restagings at Covent Garden including Katya Kabanova, Der Rosenkavalier, Attila and Stiffelio and guest performances in international houses such as La Scala, Milan, Staatsoper Vienna, Bologna, Brussels, Los Angeles, Washington and Chicago.
Since leaving Covent Garden in 1997 David has enjoyed a successful career as a freelance director on the international operatic scene. He has directed his own productions, including Simon Boccanegra and Arabella for the San Francisco Opera, Der Fliegender Holländer in San Diego, Die Zauberflöte for the New National Theatre in Tokyo, Dialogues des Carmélites in Portland, Carmen in Philadelphia and Lucrezia Borgia in Minneapolis.
In 2006, David directed an award-winning musical The Screams of Kitty Genovese at the New York Music Theatre Festival. He made his debut in Singapore with a new Le Nozze di Figaro, and returned there in 2007 for Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Die Walküre (Act 1). He also directed Albert Herring at the New National Theatre, Tokyo and La Traviata for Diva Opera touring in Switzerland, France and the U.K. as well as a presentation for Wagner Day at Covent Garden. In 2008 David staged The Pilgrim's Progress with Richard Hickox and the Philharmonia at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, La Cenerentola in Memphis, Dido and Aeneas for the Temple Music Festival and Simon Boccanegra in San Francisco. This year David will direct new productions of Falstaff in Tokyo and then for Diva Opera in Europe. He also tutors regularly in London at the Royal Academy of Music, Central School of Speech & Drama and at the Motley Theatre Design Course. David is Production Director for the Mastersingers Company for which he has directed, devised and presented a large number of scenes from Wagner operas, associated events and illustrated lectures.
"The Minnesota Opera has a hit on its hands."
LUCREZIA BORGIA - Star Tribune, January 30, 2004