Director
Damiano Michieletto is an Italian stage director especially known for opera. He has staged productions at leading opera houses and festivals worldwide. His awards include the 2015 Laurence Olivier Award for the production of Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci at the Royal Opera House in London.
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Animal Farm as Director · Wiener Staatsoper · Jun 12, 2026
Michieletto emerged from Venetian and Milanese theatrical training to make his professional mark with a 2003 production of *Švanda the Bagpiper* at Wexford, establishing immediately his gift for psychological clarity and visual invention. Over two decades, he has become the preeminent directorial voice in contemporary opera, moving from regional Italian festivals to the world's greatest houses—La Scala, the Royal Opera House, Salzburg, Vienna—where his stagings of Mozart, Rossini, and Verdi have become canonical interpretations. His work extends beyond opera into theatre and film, and his appointment as creative director for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Opening Ceremony signals his recognition as an artist of consequence across the entire performing arts landscape.
Laurence Olivier Award for Best Opera Production (2015) for *Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci* at the Royal Opera House, London
Ca' Foscari University of Venice
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