Biography

General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera since 2013, Israeli-born Tomer Zvulun is also one of opera's most exciting stage directors, earning consistent praise for his creative vision, often described as cinematic and fresh. His work has been presented by pretigious opera houses around the world, including The Metropolitan Opera, the opera companies of Israel, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Montreal, Wexfod, Glimmerglass, Houston, Washington National Opera, Seattle, Dallas, Detroit, San Diego, Minnesota, Boston, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Wolf Trap, as well as leading educational institutes and universities such as The Julliard School, Indiana University, Boston University, and IVAI in Tel Aviv.

Since taking the leadership in Atlanta, Zvulun personally directed thirty of the company's productions and has fueled a transformative era. Hailed by The New York Times as "bringing opera back from the brink," Zvulun has led the company's rise into the top ten U.S. opera companies, celebrated for its bold programming, fiscal strength, and artistic vitality. His visionary leadership is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study, underscoring his influence on the future of the art form. In 2023, Zvulun launched Atlanta's historic presentation of Wagner's Ring Cycle - the first ever staged in the Southeast and the first complete production mounted in the U.S. since the pandemic - cementing the company's reputation for artistic ambition. He also created the Discoveries series and founded The Atlanta Opera Film Studio, expanding the company's reach through immersive productions and cinematic operas streamed worldwide.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zvulun reimagined performance models with innovative outdoor productions and digital programming that drew international attention and set a new standard for resilience in the arts. A champion of new works, he has commissioned and directed numerous world premieres while personally directing productions for Atlanta, ranging from classics like La bohème and Salome to contemporary American operas.

His work at The Atlanta Opera attracted international attention by earning numerous awards and prizes including the nomination of The Atlanta Opera for the International Opera Awards in London and the selection of his production Silent Night as both the Irish Times and Atlanta Journal-Constitution production of the year. His focus on innovation led to an invitation to deliver a TED talk as well as a case study that is taught at Harvard Business School. His productions travel the world and bring a wide exposure to the company. Last season his production of Rigoletto traveled to Los Angeles Opera, his La bohème returned to The Dallas Opera, and his acclaimed production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs made its Kennedy Center debut at the Washington National Opera.

Born and raised in Israel, Zvulun studied at the Open University in Tel Aviv, was a visiting scholar at Boston University Opera Institute, and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School. He is a member of Rotary Club of Downtown Atlanta and The Buckhead Coalition.