Copley, John (Michael Harold)

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Copley, John (Michael Harold) (b Birmingham, 1933). Eng. director. Trained at Sadler's Wells Ballet Sch. and Nat. Sch. of Opera with Joan Cross. Appeared as Apprentice in Peter Grimes, CG 1950. Joined SW as stage manager 1953. First opera prod. at SW 1957 (Il tabarro). At CG 1960–88, progressing from deputy stage man. to prin. res. dir. First CG prod. 1965 (Suor Angelica). Major CG prods. incl. Mozart's da Ponte operas, Benvenuto Cellini and Ariadne auf Naxos both 1976, and Handel's Semele 1982. For ENO prod. Carmen (1969), Der Rosenkavalier (1975), Handel's Julius Caesar (1979), and many others. Lavish settings preferred.