Francesca Zambello on Directing Wagner and her Upcoming Tannhäuser in Houston

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS PROGRAM: https://youtu.be/3hlgxggifOM?si=cjtLa92KRdw2rdb0

The Wagner Society is thrilled that world-renowned director and impressaria Francesca Zambello will join us to talk about the design and direction process of how an opera comes together. In this very special event, she will share thoughts on how rehearsing Wagner is different from all other composers, and what it’s like working with singers, conductors, and designers on his works. Following there will be a visual presentation about the highly anticipated new staging of Tannhäuser she will direct at the Houston Grand Opera in the spring of 2025. In her strikingly beautiful production, lust and love, diametrically opposed forces in the opera’s universe, do battle within the title character’s psyche and curse his epic journey to salvation.  The powerhouse cast includes tenor Russell Thomas in his role debut as Tannhäuser, soprano Tamara Wilson as Elisabeth, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke as Venus, baritone Luke Sutliff as Wolfram, and bass Alexandros Stavrakakis as Landgraf Hermann. Erik Nielsen, music director of Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, will lead the forces of the HGO orchestra.

Zambello has served as the Artistic Director of 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 as the Artistic Director of the Skylight Theatre from 1987 to 1992. Her monumental production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle at SFO (2011 & 2018) was a landmark for local Wagnerians.