Michael with Maestro and Mrs. Lorin Maazel after the final performance of La Fanciulla del West, Castleton Festival, Virginia, 2013

In the summer of 2013, Maestro Lorin Maazel personally chose Michael to be the first Video Director of the Castleton Festival, filming the production of La Fanciulla del West, conducted by the Maestro and stage directed by Giandomenico Vaccari. This now-historic performance was to be Maestro Maazel’s last video production; he passed away unexpectedly in 2014. In the last three seasons, Michael has video directed all the opera productions at Castleton and is honored to perpetuate Maestro Maazel’s memory. The other productions have been: