IAN ROBERTSON has been Chorus Director and Conductor with the San Francisco Opera since 1987 and Artistic Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus since 1996. He made his San Francisco Opera conducting debut with the 1988 production of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, and has since led performances of Falstaff, Lohengrin, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Don Carlo, Turandot, Il Trovatore and La Boheme . In addition to his highly praised work with the Opera Chorus, he has led the Opera Orchestra and Chorus in many concerts. Additional conducting assignments include the San Francisco Opera Center's presentations of The Italian Girl in Algiers, Cosi fan tutte, La Perichole and The Elixir of Love and the Merola Opera Program's Grand Finale Concerts at Davies Symphony Hall. He has led Don Giovanni for Sarasota Opera, Florida and The Magic Flute and Rigoletto for Edmonton Opera and has conducted La Rondine, Iolanta, The Rape of Lucretia, Eugene Onegin and Don Giovanni for the Curtis Opera Theatre in Philadelphia. This summer, Robertson again conducted the MOP Grand Finale Concert and has appeared as guest conductor with the Carmel Bach Festival. He will conduct A Midsummer Night's Dream for Curtis Opera Theatre.

Before joining San Francisco Opera, Robertson was Head of Music and Chorus Director of Scottish Opera, where he made his conducting debut with The Barber of Seville and led The Secret of Susanna for Scottish Television's award-winning film. He went on to conduct several productions for that company, including The Pearl Fishers, Rigoletto, My Fair Lady, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and The Magic Flute as well as concerts with the Scottish Opera Orchestra. He worked as Assistant Director with the Edinburgh International Festival Chorus and the Scottish National Orchestra Chorus. He was Music Director of the Scottish Youth Theatre. A native of Scotland, Robertson trained as a concert pianist and accompanist at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, where he won numerous awards. He graduated with honors from the University of Glasgow. His recital career led to appearances at the Edinburgh International Festival and the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room in London. He recorded recitals for the BBC and appeared as pianist with the New Music Group of Scotland in contemporary works and with Cantilena as harpsichordist.

Groups Directed

San Francisco Boys Chorus