He won't have much time to think about the opera of tomorrow. Because tomorrow is less than a week for Alexander Neef. His return as the new director of the Paris Opera has been brought forward to September 1, 2020, the Ministry of Culture said on Wednesday. Since mid-June, he was in charge of studying the state of the house and developing proposals to help it develop by overcoming the crisis linked to the accumulation of cancellations, the closures of COVD 19 adding strikes caused by the pension reform.
The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron had chosen Alexander Neef, of German nationality, in 2019, after several months of speculation which had agitated the lyric community. His date of entry into office has already been brought forward, since it was originally scheduled to take place at the end of summer 2021. But on June 11, Stéphane Lissner, the current director, decided to leave the house. from Christmas 2020, tired of working in a "kneeling opera".
“In parallel with his mission in France, Alexander Neef will retain his responsibilities with the Canadian Opera Company until his successor takes office. "
Ministry of Culture"Given the unprecedented context experienced by the Opéra national de Paris" , the Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot proposed to Emmanuel Macron "to anticipate the end of the functions" of Stéphane Lissner, in order to allow Mr. Neef to take the actual management of the establishment, the ministry said. “In parallel with his mission in France, Alexander Neef will retain his responsibilities with the Canadian Opera Company until his successor takes office. Because the 46-year-old has been leading the most important lyric institution in Canada since 2008. His early assumption of office in the French capital was decided "in full agreement with the board of directors of the Canadian Opera Company," said the artistic director. “And in consultation” with Stéphane Lissner.
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Act quickly to relaunch the Opera
Mr. Neef knows the Paris Opera, having been there casting director from 2004 to 2008, during the direction of Gérard Mortier. But his arrival on the scene in September will not be easy. The Opera, an institution three hundred years old, is going through one of the most serious crises in its history: historic strike by its staff against the reform of special regimes, closure for several months due to an epidemic, with a delayed reopening at the mid-November for Bastille and January for Garnier. The strikes and the virus resulted in a ticket office loss of at least 45 million euros. "I am for an evolution, not for a revolution" , indicated Alexander Neef in an exclusive interview with Le Figaro in June, planning to quickly discuss the priorities to be set up with the staff of the house.
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The transfer of powers ceremony will be held on Tuesday rue de Valois and “will be an opportunity to discuss the perspectives and methods of accompaniment and support of the Opéra national de Paris, as well as the launch of a reflection on the lyric art policy in France ” , specifies the Ministry of Culture.