Opera Forge is delighted to announce the appointment of David Buchler as Chairman
“Opera has been in my blood since the age of three or four years old. Sitting on my father’s knee in the living room, I would wait for one of the 14 double-sided shellac 78 discs to end so that I could do my job and change the disc on the His Master’s Voice record player. It was the recording of Tosca with Gigli and Caniglia.” – David Buchler
That early fascination grew into a remarkable involvement in the world of opera. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, David produced the London International Opera Festival for almost ten years. The Festival presented around 40 events each year across venues in London, including world premieres and innovative new productions. He subsequently became Chairman of Opera Factory, succeeding Lord Harewood.
His commitment to opera led him to the board of the English National Opera, where he served as Director and Deputy Chairman for 11 years. He remains Chairman of the ENO Directors Emeriti. Through his Opera Spy blog, David shares his reviews and reflections on opera and classical music performances around the world.
Alongside his passion for the arts, David has built a distinguished career in business. A Chartered Accountant and Insolvency Practitioner with more than 45 years’ experience in insolvency, restructuring and corporate turnaround, he was a Partner at Arthur Andersen before co-founding Buchler Phillips, one of the UK’s leading financial recovery and restructuring firms, which was acquired by Kroll Inc. in 1999. David subsequently became Chairman of Kroll for Europe and Africa and has held numerous senior board and chairmanship positions across public and private companies.
He is a former President of the Association of Business Recovery and Turnaround Professionals (R3), an Honorary Member of INSOL Europe, and has been recognised for his contribution to his profession, including receiving the 2024 IPA Outstanding Contribution to the Profession Award and a Certificate of Recognition from the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
David’s experience extends beyond business and opera. He was formerly Vice-Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and continues to contribute to several academic, professional and philanthropic organisations.
For Opera Forge, David brings together two worlds that have defined much of his life: exceptional business leadership and an enduring commitment to opera.
As an artist-led company entering an exciting new chapter, Opera Forge is committed to creating opportunities for outstanding singers, championing ambitious repertoire and building a sustainable future for opera. David’s experience, knowledge and lifelong passion for the art form will be invaluable as Opera Forge continues to grow.
David Buchler said: “Opera has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. To now become Chairman of Opera Forge, a young and ambitious company with such a strong commitment to artists and demanding repertoire, is a great privilege. I am delighted to be joining the team and look forward to helping Opera Forge develop and build for the future.”
