Director
Damiano Michieletto is an Italian director whose inventive, often provocative stagings of canonical opera have established him as one of contemporary lyric theatre's most consequential interpreters.
Known For
Defining moments and milestones
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
Scuola d'Arte Drammatica Paolo Grassi, Milan (opera and theatre production/directing); Università Ca' Foscari, Venice (modern literature)
Recordings featuring Damiano Michieletto in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.