Glimmerglass Festival's Francesca Zambello to Receive Honorary Colgate University Degree

Francesca Zambello, Artistic & General Director of The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York, will receive an honorary degree from Colgate University on May 20.

Zambello, a 1978 graduate of Colgate, is a world-renowned director of opera and Theater Productions. 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 also serves as Artistic Advisor for Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center.

“I believe Colgate provided me with a solid foundation to build upon as an artist,” Zambello said. “My time there taught me to ask questions, which I feel is so important. This is a vital part of life for me, and I am now deeply honored to receive this degree.”

 Zambello recently developed and directed the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis' Heart of a Soldier for the San Francisco Opera, where she served as Artistic Advisor from 2006-2011. Her acclaimed production of Show Boat opened at Lyric Opera of Chicago in February 2012 and she opened a new production of La Traviata for Opera on Sydney Harbor in March 2012. Her new production of Aida runs July through August at The Glimmerglass Festival. This fall, she returns to direct at the Bolshoi and the Metropolitan Opera.