The Minnesota Opera has announced the appointment of Christopher Franklin as its new Principal Conductor.

Franklin will be responsible for guiding the MN Opera Orchestra in its artistic growth, developing the musical standard in its performance of inherited repertoire, and contributing to the development of new work. He will also contribute to season planning as a member of the company’s Artistic Planning Team.

Franklin first conducted with the Minnesota Opera in 2011 and has led a variety of repertoire including “Cinderella,” “La Traviata,” “Hamlet,” “Thaïs,” “Così fan tutte,” the world premiere of “Doubt,” and “The Anonymous Lover.”

He has conducted extensively in Europe including at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro Realde  Madrid, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, and the Palau de les Arts.