Heinz Fricke is a German maestro and was the principal conductor of the Washington National Opera in Washington, D.C.[1] He was appointed as music director in 1993. Before joining the Washington National Opera, he held the position of music director of the Staatsoper Berlin, and the Den Norske Opera. In 2010 Fricke announced his retirement after 18 years with the WNO and with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. He is currently the honorific Music Director Emeritus of the WNO and the KCOHO.[2]