As the first prize winner of the 2005 European Opera Directing Prize, Strassberger recently directed and designed the sets for Rossini's LA CENERENTOLA as a co-production with Opera Ireland and the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, Germany. He also recently created a new productions of Ambroise Thomas' HAMLET and Verdi's AIDA for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Also Germany this season, he created new productions of ORFEO ED EURIDICE for Theater Augsburg, and of the rarely-heard LA GAZZETTA for the Rossini in Wildbad Festival which was recorded by Naxos for release on DVD. This season, he directs his production of THE MAGIC FLUTE for the Arizona Opera. Other new productions include ARIADNE AUF NAXOS for Wolftrap Opera and LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST for the Opera de Montreal.

As a Fulbright Fellow in 2001, he completed the Corso di Specializzazione per Scenografi Realizzatori at Teatro alla Scala in Milan. He attended the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in 1998.