COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - The Board of Trustees of Glimmerglass Opera announced the appointment of Francesca Zambello as General and Artistic Director commencing September 1, 2010. Francesca Zambello is an international director of opera and theater. She is currently the Artistic Advisor of San Francisco Opera, where she is directing a new production of Wagner's "Ring" cycle.

Her work has been seen at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, the Bolshoi, Covent Garden, the Munich Staatsoper, Paris Opera, New York City Opera, Washington National 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, Berlin's Theater des Westens and at the Kennedy Center.

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 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. Elizabeth Eveillard, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Glimmerglass Opera, said, "Francesca Zambello brings a wealth of experience in the opera world to Glimmerglass. She will take the company to a new level of excellence."

Zambello added, "My first experience with Glimmerglass was directing Iphigénie en Tauride in 1997. There I discovered a vibrant theater and a company renowned for innovative productions as well as a training ground for all disciplines set in stunningly beautiful surroundings. It is a great honor and personal pleasure to be invited to lead the company. I look forward to working with the board, donors and staff in enhancing our offerings, expanding our audiences, and increasing our support."