Francesca Zambello is an internationally acclaimed opera and theater director whose work can be seen around the world. She is Artistic and Executive Director of the Glimmerglass Festival and Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera. For both institutions, she has created extensive new play development programs that have led to the production of many new works, large and small. From 2006 to 2009, she was Artistic Advisor to the San Francisco Opera and was awarded the San Francisco Opera Medal for Artistc Excellence. In addition, she received the Chevalier des Arts et des Letters from the French government for her contribution to French culture and was honored by the Russian Federation with the Medal for Services to Culture. Her other awards include three Olivier Awards from the London Society of Theatres and two Evening Standard Awards each for Best Musical and Best Opera. She was twice awarded the French Grand Prix des Critiques for her work at the Paris Opera. Other awards include Best Production in Japan, the Palme d'Or in Germany, a Golden Mask in Russia, and the Helpmann Award in Australia. She was recently awarded a Knighthood of the Order of the Star of Italy for her contribution to the promotion of Italian musical and operatic heritage in the United States and worldwide. She has been a guest lecturer at Havard, Julliard and Yale. An American who grew up in Europe, she speaks French, Italian, German and Russian. She is a graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.