Opéra de Montréal

General and Production Management

Pierre Dufour, General and Production Director

With a background in the theatrical milieu, in which he has worked for over twenty years, Pierre Dufour joined the Opéra de Montréal in 2000 as Production Director. Having taken on the role of Acting General Director from 2002 to 2003, he became the General Director in August of 2006, in addition to maintaining his role as Production Director.

In the theatre world, he has been active in all aspects of stage work, moving from positions as stagehand to stage manager, as well as working with sets. While also studying Accounting Sciences at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), he began his career as a Production and Technical Director with the Théâtre populaire du Québec in 1990, remaining with the company until 1996. He was Production Director of the Théâtre du Nouveau-Monde (1998-2000) and the Théâtre du Rideau Vert (1996-1998). While holding these positions, he also collaborated on projects for companies such as Libretto (2002, 2004) and Rozon Films (1997). He took part in several productions at Théâtre de l’Opsis (1993-2002) and was a member of the company’s Board of Directors for a two year period. As a Technical Director, he has been associated with such productions as Les leçons de Callas (1996) and Demain matin, Montréal m’attend (1995-1996), directed by Denise FiIiatrault.

He has overseen the production of over 70 theatrical productions, some 30 operas – including new productions and co-productions – and a musical comedy. Since 1994, he has taught courses in Production Direction, Stage Management, and theatrical trades at Collège de St-Hyacinthe’s Theatre Department, as well as at UQAM (2003).

Artistic Management

Michel Beaulac, Artistic Director and Administrator

Michel Beaulac was born in Montreal, and started studying piano as a teenager. After studies in education and some ten years as a teacher, he furthered his studies at the UQAM, in art and voice. Nominated by the McAbbey Foundation (sculpture), he exhibited his work on the Montreal university circuit, in the Maisons de la culture network, and at the Galerie du Petit Musée in Quebec City.

His passion for opera led to hosting duties for a radio show on which the Opéra de Montréal’s director at the time took notice of him and invited him to join the company’s communications team in 1989. He then went on to take up various other functions at the company, including work as a set and costume designer, as assistant to the Artistic Director, and, more recently, as Artistic Administrator, a position he filled for close to ten years.

As a set designer, co-set designer, and costume designer, he worked on over seven productions and co-productions for the Opéra de Montréal, including Andrea Chénier, Carmen, Fedora, Manon, Manon Lescaut, Don Carlo, Carmina burana (staged version), as well as productions for the Atelier lyrique’s Canadian tours, including The Elixir of Love and The Barber of Seville.

Responsible for the Gala since its creation in 1986, Michel Beaulac has brought the Montreal public over two hundred artists, among whom are some of the most promising and most experienced in the field. The event, which will return in its 14th edition in 2009, has also served as an occasion to pay tribute to many great Canadian figures of the opera world, through their induction into the Canadian Opera Hall of Fame.

Staff

Board of Directors