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