Biography


David is one of the most sought after British directors of his generation.

He was born in Manchester and went on to study at Central St. Martin’s School under Ralph Koltai. At the end of his studies he was awarded the prestigious Friedrich von Schiller Prize which led to a secondment at the Schauspielhaus Hamburg and the Schaubühne Berlin.

As one of the most innovative designers of his generation he has collaborated with many leading directors including David Alden, David Pountney, Nick Hytner and Keith Warner. His productions have been seen at most of the leading opera houses in the UK. He has worked at many regional repertory theatres, the Royal Shakespeare Company,  National Theatre and numerous fringe venues. He has also fronted various design driven projects with the Pet Shop Boys for their tours and albums.

Baroque opera has been a particular passion ever since he created the ground-breaking production of Handel's Xerxes at the English National Opera. He is equally at home with the later German romantic repertoire including Richard Strauss, Schreker and Zemlinsky. Indeed there seems to be a Viennese connection that links him to his love for the Austrian Playright Thomas Bernhard who he has directed, designed and translated on several occasions.

His work has been seen by diverse audiences around the world including New York, Tokyo, Chicago, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Rio De Janeiro, Paris and many other cities in Europe.

His productions have been described variously as "brilliantly visual", "modern and striking" , "fertile in imagination", "inspirational", "eclectic", "delightful", "radical and startling to the audience", "a spectacle of sheer exuberance", and "outstanding".

We can also join with the reviewer from the Gramophone who comments that:

"Fielding is a director of profligate visual imagination who has provided me with some of my funniest moments in the opera house."