Biography

A seasoned conductor well-known among the international opera houses, John Fiore is praised for his musicality, experience and his skillful expression on the podium. He is a frequent guest conductor at many of the foremost opera houses in Europe and the United States, with which he enjoys enduring relationships. After many years as a pianist and assistant conductor (he began his career as a rehearsal pianist for Wagner’s Ring at the Seattle Opera in 1975, at age 14), Fiore made his conducting debut in Gounod’s Faust at the San Francisco Opera in 1986.  After that, Fiore made a series of debuts in U.S. houses, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Santa Fe Opera, and the Met.  In the 1990s, he embarked on an international career, building continuous relationships with opera houses like The Australian Opera, Oper der Stadt Köln, the Semperoper in Dresden, and the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich.  In 1999, he became the Chief Conductor of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and the General Music Director of the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, while continuing to expand his experience in the symphonic realm.  In 2009, he became the first Music Director of the new opera house in Oslo, however in the last years, Fiore has been enjoying a freelance career, where he continues his relationships with major opera houses and orchestras.  The 2025-2026 season brought some major debuts, including at the Staatsoper unter den Linden in Berlin, and the Cleveland Orchestra.