Albert Bergeret (Founder & Artistic Director) has made a professional specialty of Gilbert & Sullivan, having sung, conducted, directed, or designed every opera in the G&S canon over the past forty years, with professional companies, community groups, and college organizations. He has been hailed as "the leading custodian of the G&S classics" by New York magazine, and his work as both stage and musical director has been widely acclaimed in the New York press as well as on tour throughout the United States.
Mr. Bergeret co-founded the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) in 1974 and has served as its Artistic Director/General Manager ever since, conducting and directing all of the company's repertory of thirteen G&S productions, as well as Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing. His boundless energy and clear understanding of the G&S genre have helped to shape the company's artistic output and to develop a loyal following for its annual performances at New York City Center in Manhattan as well as in other communities where NYGASP has toured.
He has conducted programs with Orchestra London Canada, The Northwest Indiana Symphony, and The Erie Philharmonic (featuring Broadway star Mary Beth Peil and Metropolitan Opera Baritone Robert Goodloe). He has also conducted and directed such widely diverse personalities as Steve Allen, Hal Linden, John Astin, Noel Harrison, Pat Carroll, John Rubinstein, Louis Quilico, Lando Bartolini, and John Reed, O.B.E.
Mr. Bergeret is a resident stage director with New York Grand Opera, specializing in such seldom seen Verdi operas as Stiffelio, Aroldo, Un Giorno di Regno, and Ernani.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in music from Columbia College, and twenty years experience as technical director with New York Grand Opera, Barnard College, and Symphony Space. Mr. Bergeret is also an accomplished performer with extensive church choir experience and numerous supporting roles in grand opera to his credit. He appears frequently as a singer with NYGASP's "Wand'ring Minstrels" as well as in children's performances.