Candace Evans is a director and choreographer known for clarity of storytelling, praised by Opera News for her "flawless sense of timing." Through the interplay of music, movement and text, she brings stories to life and audiences to their feet. Her work has been praised internationally, and her production of Akhnatenwas selected by Philip Glass for release by his organization as a definitive DVD. Her career spans the direction and choreography of over a hundred operas, musicals, plays and ballets.
Passionate about blending the arts to enhance audience expectations about opera as a full theatrical experience, she is known for her probing dramatic productions of traditional repertoire, as well as her innovative new productions. Ms. Evans' production of Salome for the inaugural season of Opera San Antonio featured Patricia Racette in her title role debut. Following that, she developed an abridged version of La Wally for Dallas Opera in tandem with the world premiere of Joby Talbot's Everest. Reviewed by Opera News, her interpretation of Three Decembers for the Fort Worth Opera Festival spoke of "bringing characters vividly to life" and her new production of L'Italiana in Algeri for Opera Southwest was described as "riveting and effervescent." She served as the workshop director and dramaturge for Riders of the Purple Sage, which recently had a world premiere at Arizona Opera.
Candace was honored by the legendary Teatro Colón, when her production of La Viuda Alegrewas voted in the top three operas of the season by the Argentinian National Music Critics Association. Acclaimed among Top Ten classical music events were her Carmen and Eugene Onegin for Madison Opera, as well as the Merry Widow for Dallas Opera, where she also directed Don Pasquale for their inaugural season at the Winspear Opera House.
Among Ms. Evan's other past engagements are the opera companies of Santa Fe, San Diego, Arizona, Palm Beach, North Carolina, San Jose, Knoxville, Grand Rapids and Indianapolis, as well as Florentine Opera and Indiana and Carnegie Mellon Universities.
