12 March 2010

Glimmerglass Opera Names Stage Director Francesca Zambello as General, Artistic Director Designate

Director Francesca Zambello, whose work has played on the stages of major opera houses both in America and internationally, has been named as the new general and artistic director of Glimmerglass Opera, the summer festival's board of trustees announced today.

Zambello, who begins her tenure at the helm of the Cooperstown festival on September 1, 2010, replaces Michael MacLeod, whose slated departure at the end of the festival's 2010 season was announced in February.

"My first experience with Glimmerglass was directing Iphigénie en Tauride in 1997," Zambello said in a statement issued today by the company. "There I discovered a vibrant theater and a company renowned for innovative productions as well as a training ground for all disciplines set in stunningly beautiful surroundings. It is a great honor and personal pleasure to be invited to lead the company. I look forward to working with the board, donors and staff in enhancing our offerings, expanding our audiences, and increasing our support."

Zambello, who currently serves as artistic advisor at San Francisco Opera - where she will stage next season's Ring cycle performances - has directed works for the Metropolitan Opera, Milan's Teatro alla Scala, the Bolshoi, the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, English National Opera, Opéra National de Paris, New York City Opera, Washington National Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. She began her career as the artistic director of Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theatre, and worked as an assistant director to Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. She has also directed spoken theater and musical theater on Broadway, at the Royal National Theatre, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Guthrie Theater, Vienna's Raimund Theater, the Bregenz Festival, Sydney Festival, Disneyland, Berlin's Theater des Westens and at the Kennedy Center.

Recently awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for her contribution to French culture, Zambello has also received the Russian Federation's medal for Service to Culture. In addition, she has won three Olivier Awards, two Evening Standard Awards, two French Grand Prix des Critiques, Australia's Helpmann Award, a Green Room Award, Palme dOr in Germany and the Golden Mask in Russia.