Grant Preisser

Grant Preisser is a multidisciplinary artist whose unique background in both music and design has positioned him as a distinctive voice in opera. Currently serving as artistic director of Opera Orlando, Mr. Preisser has built a reputation for creating visually compelling productions that honor operatic tradition through contemporary storytelling.

As artistic director of Opera Orlando, Preisser oversees artistic, production, and marketing operations, developing season structures that balance classic repertoire with new commissions and site-specific works. Under his leadership, the company has championed American opera and contemporary works, including the world premieres of The Death of Ivan Ilych, The Secret River, and Four Lost Santas. His commitment to expanding the operatic canon includes developing English translations and adaptations, including his new English translation of Berlioz's Beatrice + Benedict, a full-length English adaptation of Dvořák's Rusalka, and education/outreach versions in English of Massenet's Cendrillon and Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel.

Mr. Preisser's work as both director and designer has been seen at companies across the United States, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Savannah Voice Festival, Opera Steamboat, Chautauqua Opera, Opera in the Heights, University of Michigan, UrbanArias, and Lawrence Opera Theatre. Mr. Preisser’s work with UrbanArias in Washington, D.C. on contemporary American opera has been particularly notable and critically acclaimed. He designed the world premiere of The Last American Hammer (featured at Opera America's New Works Forum), which the Washington Post praised for his dramatically taut direction and set design, noting characters of considerable depth and complexity. His production of the Usonian Edition premiere of Daron Hagen's Shining Brow received widespread critical acclaim, with BroadwayWorld calling it a rare treat for DC theatre-goers where every nuance was thought through, and the MD Theatre Guide praising the production as triumphant in its intellectual depth and genuine poignancy under Mr. Preisser's expert direction.

As a scenic designer, Mr. Preisser has created over fifty production designs for opera companies nationwide. His design aesthetic balances visual elegance with practical functionality, often employing minimalist elements that allow singers to move freely while creating striking stage pictures. He has served as both production designer and scenic designer, demonstrating his comprehensive approach to a unified theatrical vision. Recent productions where he designed all visual elements include The Magic Flute, All is Calm: the Christmas Truce of 1914, Die Fledermaus, Alcina, and La Traviata.

With his dual expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and comprehensive understanding of both the artistic and administrative demands of opera production, Mr. Preisser’s work continues to enrich the opera landscape through thoughtful productions that honor the art form's traditions while embracing innovation and accessibility.