Michael Volpe

Michael Volpe is the Executive Director of If Opera, having previously founded and led Opera Holland Park (OHP), one of the UK’s most beloved opera festivals. Coming from a working-class background, Volpe has shown that opera can be presented in a visceral and convincing way to those who may have never considered it. His career is driven by a passion to introduce everyone to the art form. Volpe is an advocate of the giovane scuola repertoire of late Italian operas, and under his leadership, OHP successfully presented these works for nearly 25 years.

Volpe, from an Italian immigrant family, has three children, two of whom have operatic names. He attended Woolverstone Hall in Suffolk, a postwar British school known for its experimental approach, challenging students to transcend their social backgrounds and embrace high art. Volpe is a staunch proponent of cultural engagement for all and frequently contributes to newspapers, websites, and discussions on opera and the arts. He received an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University in June 2016.

Volpe has made two successful films that document unlikely participants' journeys into opera, with his recent film "Into the Light" focusing on UK veterans and mental health. He is also the author of "Noisy at the Wrong Times," a biography about his time at Woolverstone, which was included in The Sunday Times' list of 100 Biographies to Love.