Washington National Opera
Performing ArtsDistrict of Columbia, United States201-500 Employees
Washington National Opera is a performing arts organization based in Washington, D.C., founded in 1956, and currently led by General Director Timothy O’Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello. It positions itself as a world-class opera company through ambitious new productions, the presentation of lesser-known works of significant musical merit, and a focus on sustaining new American opera, including crucial second productions to expand the operatic repertoire. The company is recognized for staging large-scale operas with technical precision and for fostering young talent, as well as for its collaborative model with leading foreign opera companies. In recent developments, the organization has pursued a high-profile legal dispute with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and had a notable industry acknowledgment with Francesca Zambello’s induction into the Opera Hall of Fame at a 2026 OPERA America event. The organization operates as an independent nonprofit arts entity and is located in the District of Columbia, serving audiences within its regional arts landscape.