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David William Spiro is an Albanian-American conductor specializing in the Italian operatic tradition from bel canto through verismo, with particular emphasis on Verdi and Puccini.  His work is characterized by stylistic clarity, structural command, and a collaborative approach with singers, chorus, and orchestra.

 

Recent engagements include Nabucco, La bohème, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly, alongside recent additions such as La Cenerentola, Les contes d’Hoffmann, and Les pêcheurs de perles.  He performs regularly throughout Europe, including Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic, and is frequently engaged for productions requiring flexibility, efficiency in rehearsal, and the ability to integrate quickly into ongoing productions.

 

Critics have described his performances as thrilling, vibrant, and incisive, noting a musical approach that combines dramatic intensity with musical integrity.  Particularly valued for his work in the repertory system, Spiro has developed a strong reputation for stepping into productions on short notice and maintaining musical continuity and high performance standards.

 

Spiro studied conducting with Piero Bellugi at the New England Conservatory of Music.  He subsequently worked closely with Sarah Caldwell at the Opera Company of Boston and Nicola Rescigno at the Dallas Opera.  His artistic development was further shaped through mentorship with Leonard Bernstein, who described him as “a unique talent.”

 

He made his professional debut by leading members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a tribute to Bernstein, conducting Rossini’s Stabat Mater with a distinguished cast including Edda Moser, D’anna Fortunato, Gregory Kunde, and Jerome Hines.  The performance was praised as “a tribute worthy of Bernstein” (The Boston Globe) and was broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR).  He subsequently conducted Cherubini’s  Medea with the Boston Festival Opera, featuring Sylvia Sass, Rita Gorr, and John Macurdy.

 

In addition to his core repertoire, Spiro has conducted a broad range of standard operatic works including Mozart, Bizet, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky.  He brings a particular depth of knowledge to the Italian tradition through work with artists closely connected to that lineage, including Magda Olivero, Francesco Siciliani, and Virginia Zeani.