François Racine
Canadian director Francois Racine is firmly established as one of the most visionary leaders on today’s opera scene, engaged by companies throughout North America and beyond.
Named “Best Artist of 2008/9” by Seattle Opera for his powerful staging of Bluebeard’s Castle/Erwartung, Mr. Racine received accolades for Cosi fan Tutte with Pacific Opera Victoria and for his innovative interpretation of Dido and Aeneas in Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland in 2010.
While a member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, Mr. Racine assisted Robert LePage on his productions of Erwartung and Bluebeard’s Castle, and later supervised and restaged performances at Edinburgh, Hong Kong and Melbourne Festivals and later in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Cincinnati, Montreal, Quebec and Seattle.
Through his long association with Pacific Opera Victoria, Francois has directed productions of Carmen, Daughter of the Regiment, La Boheme, Tosca, Werther, Madama Butterfly and Die Fledermaus. Other engagers include Canadian Opera Company ( Carmen, Un Ballo in Maschera, Norma), Opera de Quebec ( La Boheme), Opera de Montreal ( Macbeth, La Traviata), Edmonton (La Boheme) and Opera Bouffe du Quebec ( Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein).
In collaboration with Kent Nagano and L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Mr.Racine staged concert versions of Tannhauser, Norma, La sonnambula and Saint-Francois d’Assise( Messiaen) , and with Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Orchestre Metropolitain, he devised La Clemenza di Tito in concert.
Receiving his Master’s Degree in Theatre in 2008, Francois is a guest professor for the Opera Studio of McGill University, where in 2005 he was awarded the Prix Opus for Evenement de l’annee for his production of Somers’ Louis Riel.
Mr. Racine works closely with Atelier Lyrique de L’Opera de Montreal, where he has directed productions of Cosi fan Tutte, Tragedie de Carmen, La Rondine and Amelia Goes to the Ball. Further productions with young artists include Suor Angelica, L’Heure Espagnol, Gianni Schicchi and The Nightingale at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montreal.
A gifted writer, Francois has collaborated frequently with Jeunesses Musicales in both original works (Annabelle Canto, for soprano and piano) and adaptations of librettos for many performances throughout Canada, including The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, L’Impresario, as well as Fiestango, an original concept for jazz trio.
In September 2010, Francois Racine returns to L’Opera de Montreal to direct Rigoletto.
