Bruno Ravella is an international opera director based in London, UK. Born in Casablanca of Italian and Polish parents, he was educated mainly in France, and made London his home as soon as he graduated.
Salome at Irish National Opera in March 2024 saw Bruno return to Dublin after the revival of his Der Rosenkavalier. Just before that, Polifemo by Porpora received a fantastic public response at the Opera National du Rhin. This was the first production of the piece in France, and has just been revived in Lille in the autumn of 2024. This followed Ariadne auf Naxos in Garsington Opera, his 3rd Strauss opera at Garsington, following Der Rosenkavalier and Intermezzo. Der Rosenkavalier was presented to Irish National Opera in March 2023 and was seen at Santa Fe Opera this summer. He returned to Ireland last autumn, directing Donizetti’s Zoraida di Granata opening the season at the Wexford Festival Opera.
Before that, Bruno recently directed Stiffelio at the Opéra national du Rhin, the first French production of the piece, which he then revived at Dijon Opéra. This production won the “Renaissance” award at the Forum Opera Trophies 2021.
He had his American directing debut with Rigoletto in 2019 at Opera Theatre of St Louis. His Werther in Nancy has been awarded the Prix de la critique Claude Rostand for best opera production of the season 2017/2018 in France outside Paris, and has consequently been seen at the Opera de Quebec, the Opera National de Montpellier and the Opéra de Marseille. La belle Hélène brought him back to Nancy in 2019 for his 3rd project there.
Bruno had his Garsington directing debut in June 2015 with Strauss' Intermezzo, received with great public and critical acclaim. In the summer of 2019, he returned to Garsington Opera with Falstaff reuniting him with Giles Cadle for the design. In 2017 he had his Italian directing debut at the Opera di Firenze/Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence with Puccini's La Boheme. 2016 highlights include the double bill L'heure espagnole and Gianni Schicchi for the Opera National de Lorraine in Nancy, France, Verdi's Macbeth for Iford Arts and Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci for Hampstead Garden Opera in their new North London home.
Next: Zoraida di Granata at the Donizetti Festival in Bergamo.
AWARDS
- Prix de la critique Claude Rostand - Werther at Opera National de Lorraine, Nancy
- Renaissance trophy 2021 for Stiffelio at the Opera National du Rhin
- Nominated - Falstaff - South Bank Sky Arts Award in the Opera category
- Nominated - Outstanding achievement in a New Opera Production for Falstaff at Garsington Opera - Broadway World UK