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Soundcheck / November 10, 2008 / Provocative director leaves City Opera, opera fans wonder: what next?
Provocative director leaves City Opera, opera fans wonder: what next?
Monday, November 10, 2008
On Friday, it was announced that the New York City Opera and its new director, the Belgian-born impresario Gerard Mortier, are parting ways. Mortier was to have brought a provocative, even risky agenda to the company, with major 20th century operas and new works a key priority. As the company grapple with its next move, we look today at what happened. Joining us is James Jorden editor of the opera blog Parterre.com.
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along with fries and Pain Quotidien, Gerard Mortier is Belgian, not French.
Bring Paul Kellogg back. I loved the NYCO programming -- classic repertory with some new works, a Broadway musical each season and one Gilbert & Sullivan. It worked and I'd love to see it back that way.
Did no one see this coming? As the Times Anthony Tommasini points out, the General Director in a U.S. performing arts organization is the de facto head of fundraising, an area of expertise in which M. Mortier is clearly lacking. To whom was NYCO planning to leave this responsibility while he ran the company afoul of its tight budget? A vicious cycle would ensue, wherein directors of development unable to meet the outrageous funding goals would come and go. Take away the Paris Opera's state subsidy and M. Mortier would be just as frustrated as he would ultimately have been in New York. A more creative, fiscally responsible General Manager would have relished the NYCO challenge, especially during a non-season. NYCO needs to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
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