Described by Opera Magazine for his “flair” and “real poetry” and praised for leading Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg with “life-enhancing magic” (Opera Now), Ben Woodward has established himself as one of the leading British conductors of his generation.

Ben is the Artistic Director of Regents Opera, formerly Fulham Opera, renowned as London’s largest and most ambitious independent opera company. Under his direction, Regents Opera has earned a reputation for bold, large-scale productions, including complete cycles of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, and major works by Verdi, Strauss, and Puccini.

He recently served as Assistant Conductor at The Royal Opera, London for Verdi’s Il Trovatore, and has held posts in Germany at the SH-Landestheater Flensburg, Staatsoper Hannover, and Musiktheater im Revier, Gelsenkirchen, where he conducted and prepared productions ranging from Der fliegende Holländer and Guys and Dolls to Le Grand Macabre and Manon Lescaut.

With Regents Opera, Ben has conducted critically acclaimed productions of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Don Carlo, Die ägyptische Helena, Simon Boccanegra, Falstaff, and Der fliegende Holländer. He is particularly admired for his command of the German repertoire and the operas of Richard Strauss.

A passionate advocate for developing orchestral and vocal talent, Ben has created a unique orchestral workshop series, leading full symphony orchestras through major works including Otello, Peter Grimes, Salome, Der Rosenkavalier, Wozzeck, and Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony. His workshop model has become an important training ground for singers and players tackling the grand scale of 19th- and 20th-century opera.

Ben maintains an active profile as a vocal coach in London and Berlin, including regular engagements with the Berlin Opera Academy and other young artist programs. He is a committed mentor to the next generation of artists, with an especial emphasis on the performance of Verdi and Wagner.

Originally trained as an organist, Ben was a scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, and studied at Chetham’s School of Music, later completing further studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and gaining an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business. His early musical career included continuo performances across the United States with the New Baroque Soloists and leadership of choral ensembles in London and Connecticut.

Ben lives in Berlin with his wife, soprano Catharine Woodward, and their cat, Kira.

He is represented by Hancock Artists.

Learn more about Ben: www.benwoodwardconductor.com
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