Zambello starts dynasty
NewsGlimmerglass Opera has chosen a successor to Francesca Zambello, its director for the past 11 years.
He is Robert Ainsley, head of the Cafritz Young Artists Program and the American Opera Initiative at the Washington National Opera (WNO) where Zambello is his boss.
He’ll doubtless seek her wise counsel.
Ainsley aims to ‘make this an art form for everyone — telling everyone’s story and trying to ensure everyone has agency in how those stories are told.’
Oh, that.
So many things we could say here.
I wish he and the company all the best.
Headline, without the later comment about “wise counsel” could be interpreted as a “power” play, as in giving up a position, but not really?
As does this comment about “so much we could say,” then say something! But then followed by- but wishing the best etc.
Such strangely couched language-what does it really mean?
Zambello has destroyed the Washington Opera. I stopped attending it years ago, even before Covid.
Very much agree. The repertoire, and especially the way she blocks singers in her own productions (blandly), are embraced by the establishment media and donor class, suspiciously. Audiences, not so much.
Sometimes a very few well chosen words speak volumes. “Oh that” says it all. God help my beautiful old auntie who lives upstairs. She doesn’t need “boss” dressing up to be acceptable. Bring her to the party in her best (old) clothes and she will go over just fine. But meantime at Glimmer glass more of the same old making her Street Acceptable. Bravo to the Oh that Poet. And to the new Glimmerglaas manager, let Zambello continue to do her stupid productions and think about presenting fine singers with fine conductors without “interest” new stage concepts – without weird and tasteless. Bring the people up to opera. Don’t drag opera down to the street!! In other words…far better expressed…oh that.
He’s adorable!
Ah yes, Agency….., do you mean, like, an insurance agency? This was the moment that liberalism lost America: when, about five or six years ago, it began to speak in a language that ninety-five percent of Americans never use in everyday life.