Conductor Israel Gursky has been an assistant conductor with the Washington National Opera since 2001 and has prepared more then 20 operas for that company. He made his debut there in the fall of 2007,conducting performances of Don Giovanni to great critical acclaim. Performances in 2008 include his debut with LA Opera leading performances of Howard Shore's The Fly, a production of Roméo et Juliette for PORT Opera (Portland, Maine), and conducting a concert with Plácido Domingo.
In recent seasons, Mr. Gursky conducted performances in China and Singapore with the Shanghai Opera orchestra, led a performance with the Washington National Opera Orchestra at the Strathmore Music Center, and conducted productions of Werther at the University of Maryland, and of Transformations at Manhattan School of Music. He has served as assistant conductor and chorus master for Wolf Trap Opera from 2000 to 2006.
A frequent recital collaborator, he has performed with such singers as Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Bejun Mehta, Kate Aldrich, Laquita Mitchell, Paul Sperry and Eric Cutler in venues that include Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall and the 92nd St. Y. He has appeared on French television, on A&E network's "Breakfast with the Arts" and on numerous radio broadcasts.
A native of Israel, he is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and of Stony Brook University, where he earned his doctorate. Mr. Gursky was recently the winner of a conducting award from the George Solti Foundation. He currently serves on the faculty of Manhattan School of music in New York City.
Israel Gursky
