Siegfried (The Atlanta Opera)
Second Assistant Director
Weaving together the stories and characters from Das Rheingold and Die Walküre in The Atlanta Opera’s Ring Cycle, Siegfried is the epic five-hour opera that shatters the oppression of the ancients to create a vision of a magnificent future where love, courage, and wisdom triumph over the lure of unfettered power. The third opera in the four-part Das Ring des Nibelungen.
Rigoletto (Cincinnati Opera)
Revival Director
Rigoletto is a court jester with sharp wit and a merciless tongue. By cruelly mocking a grieving father, he sets in motion a tragic lesson in poetic justice. Featuring iconic arias like “Caro nome” and “La donna è mobile,” Verdi’s masterpiece sees Rigoletto become intimately familiar with the dangers of careless love, misguided vengeance, and the inescapable lesson that, under no circumstances, can you fool fate.
Schwabacher Summer Concert (Merola Opera Program)
Conducted by William Long and directed by Omer Ben Seadia and Elio Bucky.
Revel in the sheer joy of opera as the 2025 Merola artists deliver a breathtaking evening of vocal fireworks and lush melodies accompanied by the San Francisco Opera Center Orchestra. Featuring extended scenes from beloved operas by Donizetti alongside Puccini and Gounod, this concert is a feast for the ears, celebrating the expressive power of the human voice with passion, elegance, and undeniable flair.
Le comte Ory (Merola Opera Program)
Assistant Director
Conducted by Pierre Vallet and directed by Garnett Bruce.
Rossini’s delightful comedy bursts with laughter, romance, and mischief as Count Ory stops at nothing—disguising himself in increasingly ridiculous ways—to win the heart of Countess Adèle. However, he’s not the only one scheming for her affection; his clever page is also in love with the Countess, and the two of them are hatching a plan of their own. Featuring a whirlwind of mistaken identities, gender-bending disguises, and Rossini’s effervescent melodies, this joyful adventure is a celebration of wit, charm, and dazzling vocal fireworks. Don’t miss this sparkling and hilarious, rarely seen gem!
Merola Grand Finale
Conducted by Kelly Kuo and directed by Elio Bucky
Experience the electrifying culmination of an extraordinary summer as all 2025 Merolini take the stage for one final, unforgettable night. Performed in the grandeur of the War Memorial Opera House, this thrilling concert showcases opera’s rising stars in a breathtaking program of arias and ensembles. Audiences are invited to witness the next generation of operatic talent before their careers soar to the world’s greatest stages at this joyous celebration of artistry, passion, and the
Macbeth (The Atlanta Opera)
Assistant Director
A powerful and emotional work, Macbeth is the opera Giuseppe Verdi declared to be “unlike any other!” No love story here … just a darkly riveting scramble to grab power at any cost. Dominating the drama, Michael Mayes as Macbeth and Sara Gartland as Lady Macbeth bring their passionate and dramatic voices to this tightly paced work of magnificent music.
Die Fledermaus
Projection Designer
Binghamton University. David Toulson directs a new production of Johann Strauss II’s beloved operetta Die Fledermaus.
The Seven Deadly Sins
Elio will be directing Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht’s The Seven Deadly Sins with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.
John Morris Russell, conductor
The Magic Flute (The Atlanta Opera)
Assistant Director
With a magic flute and bells, a prince and a bird-catcher set off to free a kidnapped princess. However, the path to happiness is not smooth as friends become enemies and foes become allies in this comic opera with a star-studded cast. Gorgeous music, whimsical characters, sorcerers, heroes, magical instruments, and delightful special effects are layered over the deeper quest for wisdom and truth.
La bohème & RENT (The Atlanta Opera)
Elio joins The Atlanta Opera as the second assistant director for The Bohème Project.
Following the 2023-24 season’s traditional production of Puccini’s La bohème, in September the Atlanta Opera Discoveries series continues the “Bohème Project” with two immersive productions at Pullman Yards. Produced by Tomer Zvulun with Ukranian-Israeli American designer, director, and multimedia artist Vita Tzykun, the Discoveries series “Bohème Project” comprises repertory performances of a modern-day La bohème–with the COVID-19 pandemic in place of tuberculosis—with the Broadway show it inspired, Jonathan Larson’s Rent, which updated Puccini’s story of friendship, passion, and art by setting it in the midst of the 1990’s HIV/AIDS crisis. Both performed on the same set, with the action taking place in and around the seated audience, the productions will feature different casts and musical forces and will alternate nights for most of the run.
Three Pandemics. Three Centuries. One Story.
Noche Española w/ Ana María Martínez & Friends
Ana María Martínez, soprano
Bethany Self, piano
Elio Bucky, projection designer
Andrew Archer, lighting designer
with students of the Shepherd School and special guests!
The Shepherd School celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month with a Spanish-language recital performed by faculty member and international opera star Ana María Martínez, six opera department students, and surprise guests. The performance includes projected images inspired by the musical works and on-screen translations.
La bohème
Elio will serve as assistant director for Puccini’s La bohème.
Wolf Trap Opera
Grant Gershon, conductor
John Caird, original director
Katherine M. Carter, revival director
David Farley, scenic & costume design
Michael James Clark, lighting design
Anne Nesmith, wig & makeup design
Rachel Henneberry, production stage manager
The Seven Deadly Sins
Elio will be directing Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht’s The Seven Deadly Sins with Wolf Trap Opera and National Orchestral Institute + Festival.
John Morris Russell, conductor
Cody Van Ruden, costume designer
Christian Henrriquez, lighting designer
La bohème
Elio will be directing a new production of Puccini’s La bohème at Butler Opera Center.
Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Tamar Sanikidze, producer & principal coach
Daniel Ruiz Bustos, scenic designer
Zach Young, lighting designer
Aaron Kubacak, costume designer
Andrea Grapko, intimacy director
La bohème
Elio will be directing a new production of Puccini’s La bohème at Butler Opera Center.
Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Tamar Sanikidze, producer & principal coach
Daniel Ruiz Bustos, scenic designer
Zach Young, lighting designer
Aaron Kubacak, costume designer
Andrea Grapko, intimacy director
La bohème
Elio will be directing a new production of Puccini’s La bohème at Butler Opera Center.
Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Tamar Sanikidze, producer & principal coach
Daniel Ruiz Bustos, scenic designer
Zach Young, lighting designer
Aaron Kubacak, costume designer
Andrea Grapko, intimacy director
La bohème
Elio will be directing a new production of Puccini’s La bohème at Butler Opera Center.
Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Tamar Sanikidze, producer & principal coach
Daniel Ruiz Bustos, scenic designer
Zach Young, lighting designer
Aaron Kubacak, costume designer
Andrea Grapko, intimacy director
La bohème
Elio will serve as assistant director for Puccini’s La bohème.
Music Academy of the West
Mo Zhou, director; Daniela Candillari, conductor
La bohème
Elio will serve as assistant director for Puccini’s La bohème.
Music Academy of the West
Mo Zhou, director; Daniela Candillari, conductor
Les contes d'Hoffmann (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director for Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann.
Butler Opera Center
Garnett Bruce, director; Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Les contes d'Hoffmann (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director for Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann.
Butler Opera Center
Garnett Bruce, director; Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Les contes d'Hoffmann (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director for Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann.
Butler Opera Center
Garnett Bruce, director; Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Les contes d'Hoffmann (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director for Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann.
Butler Opera Center
Garnett Bruce, director; Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
L'incoronazione di Poppea (Projection Designer)
Elio will be the projection designer for Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea.
Binghamton University
David Toulson, director; Julius Abrahams, conductor
L'incoronazione di Poppea (Projection Designer)
Elio will be the projection designer for Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea.
Binghamton University
David Toulson, director; Julius Abrahams, conductor
Proving Up (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director for Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up.
Butler Opera Center
Helen Sohyun Park, director; Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Proving Up (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director for Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up.
Butler Opera Center
Helen Sohyun Park, director; Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Proving Up (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director for Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up.
Butler Opera Center
Helen Sohyun Park, director; Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Butler Opera Center: Opera Scenes (Director)
Elio will direct opera scenes featuring voice students from the Butler Opera Center.
More details forthcoming.
Butler Opera Center: Opera Scenes (Director)
Elio will direct opera scenes featuring voice students from the Butler Opera Center.
More details forthcoming.
Song Reimagined (PSM)
Butler Opera Center
Tamar Sanikidze, piano
with voice students from the Butler Opera Center
Pearls of the vocal chamber repertory are reimagined in this collaborative recital series between the Butler School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Fusing text and music with creative multimedia and lighting, the series bursts with colorful artistry and a stellar cast.
Elio will serve as the production stage manager for this exciting performance.
Alice Ryley & Anna Hunter (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director on two one-act operas by Michael Ching: Alice Ryley and Anna Hunter.
Savannah Voice Festival
Joe Winskye, director; Andrew Bisantz, conductor
Alice Ryley & Anna Hunter (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as assistant director on two one-act operas by Michael Ching: Alice Ryley and Anna Hunter.
Savannah Voice Festival
Joe Winskye, director; Andrew Bisantz, conductor
Carmen (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as the assistant director of this production of Bizet’s Carmen.
Miami Music Festival
David Carl Toulson, director; Mark Gibson, conductor
Carmen (Asst. Director)
Elio will serve as the assistant director of this production of Bizet’s Carmen.
Miami Music Festival
David Carl Toulson, director; Mark Gibson, conductor