Maayan Franco

When were you first enchanted by (musical) theatre in your life? And what was it that enchanted you?

I was 14 years old at the time, and absurdly enough, Alban Berg's Wozzeck was my very first opera. Back then, I couldn't appreciate the music (today it's one of my favourite operas and it's my dream to conduct it), but I remember being overwhelmed by the possibilities of theatre and the combination of stage and music. 

Why do people sing and why don't they speak?

Even when we speak, we sing. Our intonation during a conversation is incredibly important in conveying the meaning of what we want to communicate. When we sing, we open up a higher level of possibilities, adding colour, texture and articulation to convey the deeper meaning behind the lyrics. 

What role can/should musical theatre play in today's society?

An escape. There is so much going on in today's world, and I believe that art has the power to offer a way out to those who are willing to engage with it. Whether you choose to take it on as a theoretical challenge or sit back and let it wash over you, it always has something to offer. 

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Born in 

Israel, 1998

Education

“Thelma Yelin” School of the Arts in Tel Aviv

Important Engagements

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Meitar, Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra

Formative collaboration with these artists

Franco has collaborated with Ilan Volkov on projects with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Staatskapelle, Festival d'Aix en Provence, Wien Modern, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble InterContemporain, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Modern. 

Debut at Volksoper Wien 

Musical Director of Stephen Sondheim's Follies in April 2025

Further engagements: Nurejews Hund, The Sound of Music

Significant awards and honours

Maayan Franco has received awards and scholarships from the Hava Stern Foundation and the Ronen Foundation, as well as an honorary diploma from the American-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF).

Website

www.maayanfranco.com

* Use of the photograph (© Lili Koss) solely for the purpose of current reporting on the Vienna Volksoper.