Biography

In 2009 Daniel Helfgot's credits reach over 200 productions of over 100 different operas, operettas and zarzuelas from the Baroque to the contemporary, including several world premieres.

His international credits include productions in Argentina (both at the Teatro Colón and Teatro Argentino), Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Mexico (at the Opera de Bellas Artes) and Sweden, and in the US he has directed for such companies as Baltimore Opera; Billings, Montana; Festival Opera, California; Chattanooga; Eugene; Knoxville; Memphis; Orlando; Pennsylvania Festival; Sacramento; Spring Opera and Western Opera Theater of San Francisco; Utah; Utah Festival; Virginia; West Bay, California; etc.

His work also includes productions of tango and cabaret shows.

From 1982 to 2000 Mr. Helfgot was the Resident Director and Director of Production for Opera San José where he created 60 productions defining the company's artistic output, established all its production departments and led the design process for the renovation of its performing venues.

In Argentina, he was Production Director and Artistic Coordinator for the Opera, Ballet and Symphony seasons at the Teatro Argentino and directed the Project for the Design and Development of the Center for Performing Arts in La Plata, where he also founded the Chamber Musical Theater and the November Musical Festival, and was Resident Assistant Director and rehearsals coordinator for the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

He was also Producer and Director for the Pennsylvania Opera Theater in Pittsburgh, PA.

He directed opera broadcasts of his own productions for the television in Argentina and an award winning production for PBS in the US. He produced, as well, several opera radio programs.

Helfgot translates opera libretti from the Italian, Spanish, German and French for English and Spanish titles, and writes operatic dialogue versions for the English, Spanish and German repertoire.

He is also the author of the libretto for the opera The Tale of the Nutcracker with music by Craig Bohmler premiered in 1999.

Mr. Helfgot is the author of the Third Line: The Opera Performer as Interpreter, a definitive book on the training of singers, originally published by Schirmer Books followed by a revised, edition titled Third Line: The Singer as Interpreter.

His teaching experience includes a guest professorship at the Musikhochschule of the Vienna University, Austria; the leadership of the Vocal and Vocal Accompanying Programs at the Music Academy of the West; and is constantly in demand throughout US campuses, with guest appearances at the National Academy of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan; the Instituto Superior de Arte, Teatro Colón, Argentina; the Academy of Music in Åland, Finland, etc.

Currently, he teaches Opera Styles and Interpretation at San José State University, California where he also directs the its Opera Theater productions.

He has received the Director of the Year 2009 award from the Classical Singer Magazine.