He made his professional debut as a boy,[1] singing solo in Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Canadian Opera Company.
He studied piano and conducting at The New School for Music of the Mannes College in New York City.
[1] In 1988, Abel founded the company Opéra Français de New York,[2] which focuses on rarely played French operas.
Also its musical director, he presented there the world premiere of Pascal Dusapin's To be sung.
[1][3] In 2020, he became principal conductor of San Diego Opera, with an initial contract of 3 years.