Alain Gauthier, a Montreal native, received his directing training at the Université du Québec à Montréal.  Gauthier proved his talent for stage direction while working as an apprentice director at Atelier Lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal. Alain Gauthier frequently collaborated with Opéra de Montréal, staging several key repertory pieces for the company, including L'Étoile, Suor Angelica, Il Tabarro, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Pagliacci/Gianni Schicchi, Faust, Dead Man Walking, Samson et Dalila, and Elektra. Pagliacci/Gianni Schicchi and Dead Man Walking were lauded by critics and audiences alike as two of the company's most notable shows. They each received an Opus Award, Quebec's top accolade in classical music, for "Best Show of the Year" and "Event of the Year."

 

Elsewhere in Canada, he was invited to stage Carmen for Edmonton Opera and Calgary Opera, La vie parisienne, Die Zauberflöte and L'elisir d'amore at Opéra de Québec, as well as many concerts and operas with young artists for Jeunesses Musicales Canada, Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, Université de Montréal, and Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.  Additionally, he collaborated on the creation of a concert version of Don Giovanni with Orchestre Métropolitain of Montreal and its conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin. More recently, he developed staged concert versions of Carmen and Bach's St. Matthew Passion with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and  Kent Nagano.

 

In the United States, Gauthier experienced a successful collaboration with Cincinnati Opera, staging for them L’Étoile, Così fan tutte, Pagliacci/Gianni Schicchi, and Carmen. He also worked with Minnesota Opera, Austin Opera, the New York City Opera as well as with the Clarion Orchestra and the Columbus Orchestra.

 

He has directed La fille du régiment at Opera Carolina, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Manitoba Opera. He also presented a five-Canadian-companies co-production of La Traviata at Manitoba Opera, Edmonton Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera and Opéra de Montréal.

 

Written on Skin at Opéra de Montreal, and La vie parisienne with Atelier d'opéra de l'Université de Montréal were both crowned with immense success.

 

In 2024, Alain Gauthier has presented two new productions at Opéra de Montréal: La Traviata in May and Hamlet in November. He will close his 2024-2025 season at the Calgary Opera with a new production of a double bill: Bluebeard's Castle and Gianni Schicchi.

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He will make his debut at the Canadian Opera Company with a new production of Werther in May 2026. The very same production will also be presented at Opéra de Montréal in Novembre 2026.