A recognised Charitable Trust founded in 2004 by Francis WacziargPromoting Western classical music and cultural exchange between East and WestFrancis Wacziarg began his career in India as a French diplomat in 1970 and remained deeply involved in heritage and the artsCo-founder of Neemrana Hotels, founder-member of INTACH and the India Foundation for the Arts, Francis Wacziarg became an Indian citizen in 1990He believed India’s monuments and remarkable local talent made the country a natural destination for operaTraining Indian singers to international standards through choirs, scholarships and the Neemrana Music AcademyThe Neemrana Music Academy was established in 2018, while annual scholarships help young Indian artists pursue studies abroadOpera training culminates in major performances acclaimed by audiences across IndiaThe Foundation is headed by Ms. Aude Priya WacziargThe only local institution dedicated to training Indian opera talent with Indian soloistsOpera productions include Le Fakir of Benares (2002), La Traviata (2009), Don Pasquale (2012), Romeo et Juliette (2014), The Republic of Love (2018), La Vie Parisienne (2023) and The Magic Flute (2025)

Francis Wacziarg

Founder

A life devoted to building bridges between cultures.

Enter the story

A life in chapters

India calling

From France to India, 1970.

After completing his MBA in France, the late Francis Wacziarg came to India in 1970. He first served as commercial attaché at the French Consulate in Bombay—beginning a lifelong relationship with the country he would call home.

Enterprise & heritage

Building institutions that endure.

He went on to become a banker and successful businessman, and co-founded the Neemrana Hotels. A founding member of INTACH and a trustee of the India Foundation for the Arts, he worked actively to promote arts and culture while building bridges between people and traditions.

The Foundation

A place for music to take root.

As founder of The Neemrana Music Foundation, Francis Wacziarg worked to put India on the world map of Western classical music. Across fifteen years, the Foundation trained students through music workshops and created opportunities for Indian singers and musicians to work with coaches from across Europe.

Opera in India

From The Fakir of Benares to nine major productions.

After producing the first opera staged in Delhi—The Fakir of Benares, directed by Muzaffar Ali—the Foundation presented numerous concerts and nine major opera productions, each involving a growing community of Indian performers and international collaborators.

His enduring commitment

Preserving heritage and promoting cultural exchange between East and West through the universal power of music.

Return to the Foundation