Washington National Opera Announces Robert Spano as New Music Director
July 6, 2022
The Washington National Opera has officially filled its vacant music director position with the appointment of renowned conductor Robert Spano. Spano, who currently leads the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival and School, will begin his three-year term as music director of the Washington National Opera in the fall of 2025. In the meantime, he will adopt the title of music director designate.
The Washington National Opera has been in search of a new music director since 2018. During this time, WNO principal conductor Evan Rogister has been serving in his position and will continue in his role until the end of the 2024-2025 season.
A Prominent Music Director
With a career spanning over two decades, Robert Spano has established himself as a highly accomplished conductor and music director. He has received four Grammy awards during his tenure as the music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a role in which he still holds the title of music director laureate. Spano also serves as the principal conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic.
Spano has a strong affinity for new music compositions, making him a promising choice for the Washington National Opera. His notable operatic experiences include conducting Nico Muhly’s “Marnie” at the Metropolitan Opera in 2018 and leading two “Ring” cycles at the Seattle Opera, in 2005 and 2009.
A Warm Welcome
Spano’s introduction to the Washington National Opera Orchestra was met with great enthusiasm. In 2022, he conducted the four-part “Written in Stone,” a commissioned piece for the Kennedy Center’s 50th anniversary celebrations. His exceptional performance solidified his position as the unanimous choice for the upcoming music director role.
When asked about Spano’s appointment, WNO general director Timothy O’Leary said, “Part of our mission as a national opera company is about shaping the future of the art form, and [Spano] has really kind of been personified by this gift for leading new works and giving them life.”
Looking Ahead
In an interview, Robert Spano expressed his excitement for his first operatic directorship. He shared, “When I was planning my departure, one of the things I was thinking was to have more time in my calendar for opera. Because I’m one of the lucky ones. We all get our labels, and in the course of my life, I was always… I was regarded as not an operatic conductor, but a symphonic conductor. And, of course, a lot of us are not interested in being one or the other. I was very lucky because I managed to keep my operatic life alive the whole time with two or three productions a year. But this will be the first time with an opera house. It’s like a miracle.”
Regarding the future of opera and attracting wider audiences, Spano expressed his confidence in the art form persevering despite the challenges of the pandemic era. He shared, “I think this is a time to persist and to persist. Not in a rigid way, but to persist in trusting that what we’re doing is valuable to all of us.”
As Robert Spano prepares to take on the role of music director at the Washington National Opera, the company anticipates an exciting new chapter that will shape the future of the art form. Under his leadership, the WNO aims to continue its commitment to innovation, new works, and captivating performances that engage and inspire audiences.
