Short Bio

Francesca Zambello

The internationally recognized opera and theater director has been the Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center since 2013. She is also the Artistic & General Director of the Glimmerglass Festival, Emerita. She served as the Artistic Advisor to the San Francisco Opera from 2005 to 2011 and the Skylight Theatre’s Artistic Director from 1987 to 1992. Zambello’s U.S. directing debut occurred at Houston Grand Opera with a production of Fidelio. She debuted in Europe at Teatro la Fenice in Venice with Beatrice di Tenda and has since staged new productions at major theaters and opera houses in Europe, Asia, Australia, Russia, and the U.S. She has worked at more than 50 international opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Paris Opera, Bolshoi, Munich State Opera, Covent Garden, and Opera Australia. Her theatrical work has been seen on Broadway, regional theaters, and European stages. She has been named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, a Knight with the Order of the Star of Italy, and received the Russian Federation’s Arts Medal for her service to culture. Other honors include three Olivier Awards from the London Society of Theatres and two Evening Standard Awards, and she has twice received the French Grand Prix des Critiques for her work at the Paris Opera and two Green Room Awards for her work in Australia. She also received the Medallion Society Award from San Francisco Opera, recognizing 30 years of work for the company, including directing the Ring Cycle in 2011 and 2018.

Recently, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sons and Daughters of Italy for her work in the arts.