Jan 7, 2021
Former Winnipegger’s career hits new high note – WFP
“When locally born director Michael Cavanagh packs his bag for Stockholm next summer, he’ll be living out his dreams while marking a major career milestone.
Now based in London, Ont., the 59-year-old artist, who grew up in River Heights, has recently been appointed the new artistic director for the venerable 248-year old Royal Swedish Opera (RSO), regarded as one of the world’s greatest opera houses.
“It’s a huge honour and I just feel so much gratitude, and also this enormous sense of responsibility for this job, which is really fantastic,” says the effervescent director, who assumes the reins from retiring artistic director and CEO Birgitta Svendén this August for a five-year tenure.
“It’s not just a national opera company, but it’s a royal opera company with all this incredible history,” he says, anticipating the opportunity to put his own creative stamp on what he calls this “big, beautifully run organization.”
As one of Canada’s most sought-after directors, the prolific Cavanagh has helmed more than 150 productions at more than 30 companies across North America and parts of Europe, including Vancouver Opera, San Francisco Opera, L’Opera de Montreal, Kansas City Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and naturally, Manitoba Opera, as well as serving as artistic director for Edmonton Opera between 1998 and 2001.”
