Biography

Conductor Neal Goren was the founder and Artistic Director of Gotham Chamber Opera, which popularized and legitimized the formerly ignored genre of chamber opera, which has now attained respect equal to the pillars of the of the operatic repertoire. In its fifteen years of existence, Goren conducted all of Gotham’s 27 productions.

Goren’s other conducting credits include performances of standard operas, non-standard operas, and premieres throughout the US, Europe, and Asia.

A much sought-after recital accompanist, Goren has concertized extensively with Leontyne Price, Kathleen Battle, Hei-Kyung Hong, Harolyn Blackwell, Hakan Hagegard, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Aprile Millo, Hermann Prey, among others.

He is an Associate Professor at Mannes College, The New School for Music, where has served on the faculty since 1991. He is a frequent judge of national and international vocal and composers’ competitions and is an annual featured guest on the Metropolitan Opera quiz.

A celebrated writer and lecturer on opera topics, his book, Beyond the Aria, is scheduled for publication by Rowman & Littlefied (formerly Amadeus Press) in 2020.

Goren’s newest opera venture is Catapult Opera.