Washington National Opera Names Francesca Zambello Artistic Director

Washington National Opera (WNO) today named Francesca Zambello as its Artistic Director, effective January 1, 2013. She has served as the company's Artistic Advisor since June 2011. 

As Artistic Director, Ms. Zambello will have responsibility for the company's artistic vision and direction, including repertoire and casting. She will work in close collaboration with Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser, WNO Executive Director Michael L. Mael, and WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin to further the company's long history of artistic excellence. She will also oversee the artistic growth of the company's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and will guide the future of the American Opera Initiative, WNO's new American opera commissioning program. She will continue to direct one production each season. 

"Cesca is both a brilliant director and a highly effective administrator," said WNO Board Chairman Jacqueline B. Mars. "Her stature in the international opera community enhances the company and I have great confidence that she will take WNO in a positive direction." 

"It will be an enormous pleasure and honor to expand my role with WNO as its Artistic Director, maintaining the high standards set by my predecessors and leading WNO into the future," said Ms. Zambello. "I will respect what appeals to our long-time patrons and supporters while at the same time work hard to attract new audiences to opera. I look forward to raising the profile of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, continuing the great work already underway with the American Opera Initiative, and highlighting special and unique repertoire and artists that only the intimacy of the Kennedy Center affords us. This is a challenge I embrace unequivocally, and I look forward to sharing more of my plans in the coming months." 2 

"Francesca Zambello will bring much passion and vision to WNO in her expanded role as Artistic Director," stated Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser. "Her deep commitment to WNO's mission, its legacy of rich artistic programming, and its outreach and education initiatives will help bring WNO to a new level of artistic achievement." 

Francesca Zambello has established herself as one of the boldest names in opera. She has enjoyed a storied career as both an opera director and an arts administrator and has an extensive history of success with WNO. She has directed numerous productions for WNO and will direct her new production of Show Boat in May 2013. As previously announced, she will bring her much-admired Ring cycle back to Washington in the spring of 2016. She also serves as the Artistic and General Director of the Glimmerglass Festival in upstate New York, where she recently directed an acclaimed production of Aida.