The Opera of Rouen Normandy, in lack of finances and faced with the outbreak of its energy bill, will close its doors for six weeks from the beginning of April to May 7, we learned Thursday from concordant sources.
Six shows, including the participatory opera
Cinderella or the grand hotel of dreams
and the creation
The Convert
by Wim Henderickx, are canceled, according to a press release from the Opera.
"It is heartbreaking for us to have to give up certain creations in the coming months and, even more, to suspend the patiently developed participatory mechanisms to allow as many people as possible to taste the joys of opera"
, regretted the general manager Loïc Lachenal, quoted in the press release.
In question, a
“chronic underfunding of the structure”
since 2018, according to Jean-Baptiste Jacob, general administrator of the opera, who however affirms that the budget has remained balanced
“thanks to accounting acrobatics”
.
The Rouen Normandy Opera is financed by the region to the tune of 7.6 million euros per year, by the State (1.5 million) and the metropolis (1.7 million).
“Our energy bill goes from 200,000 euros in 2022 to 650,000 euros in 2023”
, Jean-Baptiste Jacob told AFP, warning that the cultural establishment lacks
“one million euros in structural”
.
Disengagement of two departments
Regional Councilor Catherine Morin-Desailly (Union Centriste) for her part pointed the finger at the
“metropolitan underfunding which jeopardizes the structure”
.
“The region has reinforced its support, the state as well.
The Metropolis must make a readjustment of at least around one million euros
, “said the elected official, who chairs the culture, tourism and heritage commission at the regional council.
In reaction to the closure of the Opera, the mayor (PS) of Rouen Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, asked in a letter to the Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak that the metropolis not produce
"only the efforts necessary for the restoration of the financial situation of the EPCC (public institution for cultural cooperation)”
.
The city councilor said he was ready to
“significantly increase the metropolitan financial contribution, to the tune of several hundred thousand euros per year”
, calling for “support” from the State but also for a “tour de table” including the departments of Seine-Maritime and Eure.
According to the mayor,
“the structural deficit more or less corresponds to the disengagement of the two departments”
.
The Opera will relaunch its 2023-2024 season on May 12 and 13 with the
Danser Ravel et Bussy
show performed by two Norman orchestras.
