Francesca Zambello Extends Contract With Washington National Opera, Thru Sept. 2018

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced that Francesca Zambello will extend her term as Artistic Director for three years through September 2018. She has served as the company's Artistic Director since January 2013 and as its Artistic Advisor since June 2011.

During her tenure as Artistic Director she has planned the company's repertory and casting, introduced WNO's annual sold-out holiday opera, overseen the artistic growth of the company's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, and guided the company's commissioning program under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative. She will direct the company's first- ever presentation of Wagner's complete Ring cycle next season, and has recently directed acclaimed WNO productions of Dialogues of the Carmelites (2015), The Little Prince (2014), Florencia in the Amazon (2014), the world premiere children's opera The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me (2013), The Force of Destiny (2013), and Show Boat (2013).

"Cesca has been a brilliant colleague and I am thrilled she will remain with us for another three years," said WNO Board Chairman Jacqueline B. Mars. "She has a bold vision for our company, and I look forward to seeing her plan to balance classic, contemporary, and American works continue to engage our audiences in future seasons."

"It has been a tremendous honor and joy to work with my WNO and Kennedy Center colleagues and trustees to broaden the important work of our company," said Ms. Zambello. "I am passionate about continuing to make our offerings as diverse and content-rich as possible while striving to make opera affordable and accessible to everyone."

"Francesca Zambello continues to bring passion and vision to WNO, and I am thrilled she will be staying in the Kennedy Center family" said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. "Her deep commitment to WNO's mission, its legacy of rich artistic programming, and its outreach and education initiatives will continue to bring WNO to a new level of artistic excellence."

Future directing projects for Zambello include the world premiere of La ciociara (Two Women) at San Francisco Opera; a new production of Candide at The Glimmerglass Festival, where she is also General and Artistic Director; and a revival of Luisa Miller to open San Francisco Opera's 2015-2016 season.

ABOUT FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO

Francesca Zambello is the artistic director of Washington National Opera. She has directed many WNO productions, including Of Mice and Men (debut in 2001), Fidelio (2003), Die Walku?re (2003 and 2007), Billy Budd (2004), Porgy and Bess (2005 and 2010), Das Rheingold (2006), Siegfried (2009), Salome (2010), Show Boat (2013), The Force of Destiny (2013), the world premiere children's opera The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me (2013), Florencia in the Amazon (2014), The Little Prince (2014), and Dialogues of the Carmelites (2015). Since September 2010 she has also been the artistic and general director of The Glimmerglass Festival in Central New York. An internationally recognized director of opera and theater, her work has been seen at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, the Bolshoi, Royal Opera House, Munich State Opera, Ope?ra National de Paris, New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and English National Opera. She has staged plays and musicals on Broadway, at the Royal National Theatre, BAM, the Guthrie Theater, Vienna's Raimund Theater, the Bregenz Festival, Sydney Festival, Disneyland, and Berlin's Theater des Westens. She began her career as the artistic director of the Skylight Opera Theatre and as an assistant director to the late Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. She has been a guest lecturer at Harvard, Juilliard, and Yale. An American who grew up in Europe, she speaks French, Italian, German, and Russian. She is a graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. She has been awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for her contribution to French culture, and the Russian Federation's medal for Service to Culture. Her theatrical honors include three Olivier Awards, two Evening Standard Awards, two French Grand Prix des Critiques, Helpmann Award, Green Room Award, Palme d'Or in Germany, and the Golden Mask in Russia. She is married to Faith Gay, a senior partner at Quinn Emanuel.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, the company presents a diverse season of grand opera-including both classics from the repertory and more contemporary pieces-plus an annual holiday family opera, several newly commissioned American works, and a variety of special concerts and events. The WNO Orchestra is led by Music Director Philippe Auguin. Founded in 1956 and an affiliate of the Kennedy Center since 2011, WNO has a storied legacy of world premieres, new productions, international tours, live recordings and radio broadcasts, and innovative education and community-engagement programs. Throughout its history WNO has been led by titans in the opera field, including the legendary Pla?cido Domingo, who headed the company from 1996 to 2011.

WNO contributes to the future of opera through two signature artist-development programs. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, now in its 13th season, has become one of the nation's most competitive and comprehensive professional training programs for young singers and collaborative pianists. Alumni of the program have won major competitions and gone on to successful careers at major operas houses in the U.S. and abroad. The WNO Opera Institute nurtures the ambitions of high-school-age singers from across the nation during an intensive three-week summer program held at American University in Washington.

Among the company's most successful recent programs is the 2012 launch of the American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive commissioning program that works to expand the American operatic repertory, to give WNO's young artists the chance to collaborate with living composers and librettists on new works, and to make American opera more relevant to 21st century audiences. The most popular of WNO's community-engagement programs is M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield, during which an opera is broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House stage to the high-definition scoreboard at Nationals Park. Last season's simulcast drew more than 10,000 spectators to the ballpark. The company's other education programs include the Kids Create Opera program at local elementary schools, Look-In performances for students in grades 4-8, and the Student Dress Rehearsal Program for middle and high school students. The company also offers free Opera Insights programs before every performance in the Opera House.

To celebrate the company's 60th anniversary, Washington National Opera will present three complete cycles of Wagner's Ring in spring 2016. These performances, featuring an acclaimed production by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by Music Director Philippe Auguin, will be the first time the company has presented The Ring in complete cycles in its history.

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FUNDING CREDITS

Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars.

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO.

WNO acknowledges the longstanding generosity of Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B. Casey.

Washington National Opera's season is presented with the support of Daniel and Gayle D'Aniello.

Generous support of WNO's artistic programming is provided by Clarice Smith.

General Dynamics is the presenting sponsor of WNO's 2015-2016 Season.

Initial funding for WNO's 2016 Ring is provided in part by Jacqueline B. Mars. 3

The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is made possible through the generous support of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

Additional funding for the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is provided by Judy and Billy Cox.

MyTix, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by David and Alice Rubenstein.

PRESS CONTACT

Michael Solomon
(202) 416-8453 masolomon@kennedy-center.org