Philippe Auguin

 Music Director, 2010-2018

The orchestra’s relationship with French conductor Philippe Auguin began in November, 2009 when he was engaged to replace an ailing Heinz Fricke in a concert version of Götterdämmerung. After leading two electric performances, Auguin was an instant success with the orchestra, and upon Fricke’s retirement he was hired to be the next music director of the KCOHO.

Maestro Auguin, who had conducted opera and symphonic orchestras all over the world, immediately thrilled Washington audiences and critics. Philip Kennicott wrote of his Tristan: “Conductor Philippe Auguin and the orchestra…were the real stars of the afternoon. I’m not sure I’ve heard the opera orchestra play this well.”

Maestro Auguin’s impact on the orchestra over his eight-year tenure was profound. He hired thirteen musicians—filling eight of the orchestra’s principal and assistant principal positions—and his demand for perfection in rhythm, dynamics, and intonation brought the orchestra to an even higher level of musicianship. 

In 2011 Plácido Domingo ended his 15-year tenure with the company, and Francesca Zambello became Artistic Director, along with Michael Mael as Executive Director.

Under Zambello, the WNO introduced two new projects. The Holiday Family Opera offers short family friendly productions, and the American Opera Initiative (AOI) is a commissioning and workshop program for new American composers and librettists, which presents four short new works each season. These performances utilize small ensembles from the KCOHO and singers from the WNO Cafritz Young Artists Program.

Additionally, the WNO championed contemporary American operas, including Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick and Dead Man Walking, Terrance Blanchard’s jazz opera Champion, the Pulitzer Prize winning Silent Night by Kevin Puts, and the 2015 premier of a revised and expanded version of Appomattox by Phillip Glass. Representative John Lewis, who is represented in the opera, was present at the premiere to the great honor of all in attendance.