 SEPTEMBER 24 • 2020 | 29

of moving vehicles, operating 
train stations, Hollywood 
sound stages and various alter-
native stages, such as escalator 
corridors and warehouses. 
“I am responsible for shap-
ing the artistic identity of 
MOT and upholding the stan-
dards of musical excellence I 
think this audience has come 
to expect,” said Sharon, who is 
single and looking for a local 
home. “I want to make sure 
that the organization’
s iden-
tity is in synch with Detroit 
and the communities that 
make up the Metropolitan 
Detroit area. That’
s going to 
be my driving force in pick-
ing out pieces. 
“For each season, we will 
take our audience on a jour-
ney. A very important part of 
that is the advocacy for this 
kind of work, which means 
being very involved with the 
development, marketing and 
press departments — working 
with everyone to ensure the 
communication of that artistic 
identity as truly unified and 
to win as many fans for this 
adventurous work as possible.
”
Sharon plans on continu-
ing with traditional opera 
as part of the journey and 
bringing performances into 
communities.
During the pandemic and 
away from live productions, 
Sharon has been writing 

a book detailing his opera 
experiences and projections 
for the future of the art form. 
Next year, he will be a visiting 
scholar in Jerusalem, where he 
plans to connect with opera 
presenters and reboot Hebrew, 
his first language.
“I love learning languages,
” 
said Sharon, fluent in German 
with knowledge of Italian, 
French and Spanish and 
beginning studies of Japanese. 
“When I hear my mom speak 
Hebrew, I still understand it.
”
Sharon’
s full MOT title 
is the Gary L. Wasserman 
Artistic Director because his 
tenure is funded in part by 
Wasserman, a member of 
the MOT board of directors 
and multimedia art presenter 
through Wasserman Projects 
in Detroit. Sharon and 
Wasserman became acquaint-
ed at the Ojai Music Festival in 
California.
As Sharon travels the globe 
he is often asked if he is related 
to Ariel Sharon. Although he 
knows questioners mean the 
late prime minister of Israel, 
he has an initial answer. 
“Yes, he was my dad,
” 
Sharon laughs before explain-
ing that his dad had the same 
first name as the prime minis-
ter and knowing that his dad 
could be considered a prime 
mentor in his career 
direction. 

“For each 
season, we 
will take our 
audience on a 
journey.”

— MOT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 
YUVAL SHARON

CASEY KRINGLEN

