New Zealand Opera has announced the appointment of Brad Cohen as the company’s new General Director commencing June 2023. 

Cohen replaces Thomas de Mallet Burgess, who has served as General Director of NZO for the past five years. Having navigated the company through the pandemic, De Mallet Burgess leaves to take up a new role as Artistic Director of Opera at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in August 2023 under a four-year contract.

“[Cohen] brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the opera sector,” said NZO Board Chair Annabel Holland. “He has conducted a wide-ranging repertoire throughout the opera houses of the world and has had artistic, managerial, and strategic responsibilities as Artistic Director at West Australian Opera, where he also mentored and coached many artists.”

Cohen is a conductor, musician and publisher, with experience in the digital music and music technology sectors. He grew up in Sydney before studying at Oxford University, the Royal College of Music, and the Royal Northern College of Music.

A year after winning the 1994 Leeds Conductor’s Competition, Cohen conducted the world premiere of Thomas Adès’ Powder her Face. In the...