For last minute registration and questions, please call 949-584-6586.
Please join us for a unique opportunity to meet and hear one of the world's most sought after directors of opera and theater - Francesca Zambello! If you had the good fortune to experience her critically-acclaimed production of Wagner's complete Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Washington National Opera or the San Francisco Opera, you know what a visionary Wagnerian director she is! (Don't miss her hilarious production of The Barber of Seville, which the Minnesota Opera is presenting from November 9-16!)
You must register by Wednesday, October 30th to attend. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated. The registration price includes the program and appetizers, desserts, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. A cash bar will also be available to serve additional alcoholic beverages.
$25 RWSUM members, MN Opera subscribers, GAI members, and MN Opera & Ordway staff
$35 Non-members
We hope you will join us for a rare experience to hear one of the world's most accomplished directors of opera and theater speak about what it's like to direct Wagner's operas in the 21st century!
Schedule:
3:30 Reception - Appetizers, desserts, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages (cash bar available for additional alcoholic beverages)
4:00 Directing Wagner in the 21st Century (a multi-media presentation by Francesca Zambello)
4:40 Preparing for The Glimmerglass Festival 2020 (including Ms. Zambello's plans for staging Wagner's first opera, Die Feen)
5:00 Q&A
5:30 Event ends
About Francesca Zambello:
Francesca Zambello is an internationally recognized director of opera and theater, as well as the General Director of The Glimmerglass Festival since 2010 and the Artistic Director of The Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center since 2012. She has also served as the Artistic Advisor to the San Francisco Opera from 2005-2011 and as the Artistic Director of the Skylight Theater from 1987-1992. In her current roles at the Kennedy Center and the Glimmerglass Festival she is responsible for producing 12 productions annually. She has begun major commissioning programs for new works in both companies that have resulted in productions of many large and small-scaled new works. Both companies have thrived financially and increased their national and international profiles as a result of her artistic vision and leadership.
Her American directing debut took place at the 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 and the USA. She has worked at over 50 major opera houses including: The Met, La Scala, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Paris Opera, the Bolshoi, Munich State Opera, Covent Garden and the Australian Opera. Her work has also been seen at many of the world's major festivals. Collaborating with outstanding artists and designers and promoting emerging talent, she takes a special interest in new music theater works, innovative productions, and in producing theater and opera for wider audiences.
Francesca Zambello 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. Other honors for her work include three Olivier Awards from the London Society of Theaters and two Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical and Best Opera. She has also received the award for Best Company Achievement. The French Grand Prix des Critiques was awarded to her twice for her work at the Paris Opera. Other awards include Best Production in Japan, the Palme d'Or in Germany, the Golden Mask in Russia and the Helpmann Award in Australia.
Francesca Zambello's most recent opera projects have included The Ring and Aida for the San Francisco Opera and The Washington National Opera, and Porgy and Bess and Show Boat for commercial DVD release. Musical and theater projects have included developing Voigt Lessons with Terrance McNally and Debbie Voight; Rebecca for Vienna's Raimund Theater, Stuttgart's Palladium Theater (presented by Stage Entertainment), and in St. Gallen, Switzerland; The Little Prince with Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman; Napoleon in the West End; The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway; the musical of The Little House on the Prairie for national tour; The Master Butchers at The Guthrie Theater; and Aladdin in Disneyland. Film works have included Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors for BBC Television; a new film for the BBC, Sony and PBS of The Little Prince; and West Side Story for the floating stage in Bregenz.
