In Thursday’s (6/14) Washington Post, Anne Midgette reports, “The other shoe has dropped at the Washington National Opera: Christina Scheppelmann, the company’s director of artistic operations, announced Thursday that she will step down at the end of November. She is taking on a new position, although she cannot announce what it is until her new employer makes it official at the end of the month. Scheppelmann was responsible for selecting repertories, directors and casts for the company. In short, she has been largely, if not exclusively, responsible for WNO’s artistic profile in the past few years, particularly as Placido Domingo’s tenure drew to a close. Since WNO’s merger with the Kennedy Center in 2011 and the appointment of Francesca Zambello as artistic adviser, there has been some question about how well two women with divergent artistic visions would be able to work together. … Don’t look for big changes soon; Scheppelmann says she’s overseen repertory and casting through the ‘Ring’ cycle in the 2015-16 season. At the same time, WNO has announced details for the first season of its American Opera Initiative, the new program it announced in January to provide opportunities for young American composers.”
Posted June 15, 2012
