Stage director Octavio Cardenas has been captivating audiences with his visionary, visceral, and physical style of directing. Recent productions include La Boheme with Minnesota Opera and H.M.S Pinafore with Baylor Opera. Upcoming productions include Maria de Buenos Aires for Des Moines Metro Opera, and the world premiere of Bless me Ultima with Opera Southwest.

Octavio’s recent directing credits with Silent Night for Fort Worth Opera and Kansas City Lyric Opera were described as “a breathtaking realization” with “many brilliant touches.” The Kansas City Star called the Lyric’s production “one of its finest performances in recent memory.” Other recent productions include Galileo Galilei for Des Moines Metro Opera, Carmen for Opera Santa Barbara and Florencia en el Amazonas with the Tulsa Opera Young Artist Program.

As Director of Opera for Baylor University, Octavio has directed productions of L’elisir d’amore, The Turn of the Screw, Dialogues des Carmélites, and La finta giardiniera. He currently serves as the head of the directing staff at Des Moines Metro Opera and has also been in the directing staff at Chautauqua Opera.