Anthony Freud OBE joins Opera Rara’s Board of Directors

We’re pleased to announce that Anthony Freud OBE has joined Opera Rara’s Board of Directors. Opera Rara is one of three UK charity boards he has recently joined, alongside Opera North and Music Preserved.

“I have enjoyed Opera Rara’s outstanding artistic excellence for many years. It is a unique and immensely distinguished organisation which, for more than half a century, has rediscovered, restored, performed, recorded and championed some extraordinary operas and songs. I am really delighted to be joining Opera Rara’s board and look forward to working with the team to ensure its evolution and development.” – Anthony Freud

Anthony Freud served as General Director, President, and CEO of Lyric Opera of Chicago for thirteen years before retiring in July 2024. He was previously General Director of Houston Grand Opera (2006-2011) and Welsh National Opera (1994-2005), and former board chair of both Opera America and Opera Europa.

Having studied law at King’s College, London and qualified to become a barrister, Anthony Freud chose instead to follow his passion for opera and started his professional life at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre (1980-1984) where he worked as theatre manager and company manager. Following a period as Welsh National Opera’s company secretary (1984-1988) and then Director of Opera Planning (1998-1992), Freud worked at Philips Classics as an executive producer (1992-1994) managing recording projects for some of the world’s leading classical artists before returning to Welsh National Opera as General Director.

Anthony Freud has served on the juries of numerous international singing competitions and was jury chair for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World for 10 years. A former board member of the National Opera Studio in London (1994-2005), Anthony is currently an emeritus board member of Opera America.

Photo (c) Todd Rosenberg