Guido Martin-Brandis is a London based opera director whose work has been widely praised in the press for its narrative clarity, psychological insight, wit, inventiveness, and deep connection with audiences. His productions have been finalists in the OffWestEnd and Standing Ovation Awards, marking him out as a rising figure amongst British opera directors.
He is particularly passionate about the German and Slavic operatic repertoire, alongside the operas of the French Baroque, and formed The Opera Company in 2017 to put on productions of these works. Early productions included Onegin and Tatiana, and The Cunning Little Vixen, followed by three operas by Jean-Philippe Rameau, including the UK premiere of the 1737 version of Castor et Pollux, and two shows he devised based on forgotten French baroque music - Rameau’s Roots, and The Theatre of the Salon. More recent directing projects have included critically acclaimed productions of L’elisir d’amore for Wild Arts, Tristan und Isolde and Strauss’ rarely staged Die Ägyptische Helena for Regents Opera, Imeneo for Cambridge Handel Opera Company, Hansel und Gretel and La Cenerentola for Opera Kipling, Die Fledermaus for The Merry Opera Company, the world premiere of A Child in Striped Pyjamas based on John Boyne’s bestselling novel, Dido and Aeneas for Somerset Opera, and La Serva Padrona and Bastien et Basteinne (Opera de Baugé).
Guido is extremely passionate about the artistic development of young singers, and he has been invited to direct opera scenes at Guildhall School of Music and Drama for four consecutive years. Future plans include The Barber of Seville for Opera Kipling, and Handel's Dueling Divas, Dido and Aeneas and Der Rosenkavalier for The Opera Company.