Joel Ivany is a bold force in Canadian opera, known for reimagining tradition and crafting original stories for the stage. He serves as Artistic Director of Edmonton Opera and is the visionary founder of Toronto’s Against the Grain Theatre, following twelve seasons as Artistic Director of Opera at Banff Centre.

His directing work spans the globe, with standout productions including Macbeth (Minnesota Opera), Carmen (Vancouver Opera), Orphée+ (Edmonton Opera), Gavin Bryars’ Marilyn Forever (Adelaide Festival), and a revival of The Marriage of Figaro for the Norwegian National Opera.

A dynamic librettist, Joel has written seven (and counting) original librettos, collaborating with organizations such as the Canadian Opera Company and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Recent mainstage credits include Die Walküre and Die Fledermaus at Edmonton Opera, as well as a touring production of Tosca for the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Additional acclaimed work includes Hänsel und Gretel and Carmen (Canadian Opera Company), Mozart’s Requiem and The Seven Deadly Sins (Toronto Symphony Orchestra), Brundibár (Canadian Children’s Opera Company), Dead Man Walking (Vancouver Opera), and Claude Vivier’s Kopernikus (Against the Grain and Banff Centre).

Joel is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Opera School and a member of Western University’s Alumni Wall of Fame, where his journey in music first took flight.