Deborah Sanders

Arts Management

Omer Ben Seadia

Stage director
Israeli director Omer Ben Seadia is known for her inventive, thoughtful, and socially conscious productions. While garnering a name for herself in the classic repertoire, she has also won praise for developing and promoting new opera all over the world. Ms. Ben Seadia’s upcoming projects include a world premiere production of The Snowy Day (Joel Thompson, Davis Pinkney) at Houston Grand Opera, The Magic Flute at Opera Theater St. Louis, The Merry Widow at Calgary Opera, Thumbprint (Sankaram, Yankowitz) at Chautauqua Opera, and Tosca at Utah Opera.

 

Ms. Ben Seadia began working extensively in the United States in 2012 after over a decade with the Israeli Opera. She is deeply committed to the development and training of young artists, and teaches acting at the country’s leading young artist programs. Recent productions include Carmen at Cincinnati Opera, Rigoletto at Florentine Opera, Agrippina at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Rodelinda at the Aspen School of Music and Festival, La tragèdie de Carmen at Utah Opera, Ariadne auf Naxos at Cincinnati Opera, Tosca at Hawaii Opera Theatre, Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Colorado, Elektra at Canadian Opera Company (Associate Director), Idomeneo at Wolf Trap Opera, Yardbird at Atlanta Opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors with Philadelphia Orchestra, The Golden Spike (Dramaturg and Director) at Utah Opera, La bohème at Opera Santa Barbara, a double bill of Tom Cipullo’s Josephine and After Life at Opera Colorado, the world premiere of Steal a Pencil for Me (Gerald Cohen, Deborah Brevoort) at Opera Colorado, Faust at Tulsa Opera, L’italiana in Algeri at Opera Santa Barbara, and Considering Matthew Shepard – a fusion oratorio by Craig Hella Johnson in collaboration with Cincinnati Opera and the Vocal Arts Ensemble.

“Director Omer Ben Seadia’s staging captured not only the coziness of Peter’s home but—with the help of movement director Courtney B. Jones—the freewheeling fun of the youngsters’ antics in the snow. ” Steven Brown, Texas Classical Review, December 10, 2021 for The Snowy Day at Houston Grand Opera

“Director Omer Ben Seadia creates an air of the mystical and familiar in this rendering of the beloved tale.” Kathryn Olsen, Front Row Reviewers, May 9, 2021 for Le Tragedie de Carmen at Utah Opera

 

 

“Director Omer Ben Seadia developed clear intent for each character and created a series of touching scenes. She navigated the limits of concert opera with a few chairs, a desk and a toy boat. A chessboard-like floor defined rooms and gave the characters something to use as a maze and finally rip apart as the complicated plot reached its climax.” Harvey Steiman, The Aspen Times, August 24, 2021  for Aspen Opera Theatre’s Rodelinda

The staging by female director Omer Ben Seadia was sensitive, yet straightforwardly presented, balancing the boisterous joie de vivre and forthcoming romantic doom.”  Robert F. Adams, The Voice Magazine, November 16, 2018 for La Boheme at Opera Santa Barbara.

“Omer Ben-Seadia’s judicious and effective direction of the Merola Grand Finale on Saturday marked a burgeoning talent in an artist with an unusual background, including military service. When asked about possible challenge from peers when she directed opera at the Cincinnati Conservary, she quipped that there’s never any question about who’s in charge, “that’s where my Israeli army experience comes in.”” Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice, August 19, 2014 for San Francisco Opera’s Merola Grand Finale

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