In an interview with the Austrian daily The standardthe director of the Vienna Staatsoper has indicated that after the departure of Philippe Jordan in 2025, the Viennese institution will do without a musical director in favor of “intensive work with a group of important chefs”.
Bogdan Roscic: “Historically, the Staatoper has been without a musical director much longer than with a single »
On the eve of the presentation on Sunday by the Wiener Staatsoper of Mastersingers of Nuremberg of Richard Wagnerits director general gave an update on the situation of the Austrian institution in an interview with the daily The standard. Asked about the future of the position of musical director after the departure of Philippe Jordan in 2025, Bogdan Roscic has indicated that it will do without and instead focus on “intensive work with a group of important chefs”.
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Bogdan Roscic specifies that “The position of music director has always been a special case in Vienna, because the Staatsoper’s musical identification figure is also its orchestra. And the orchestra has its own ideas (…) Historically, the Staatoper has been without a music director much longer than with one. Both models can have major advantages and disadvantages”. An announcement that puts an end to rumors of advanced contact with Teodor Currentzis to succeed Philippe Jordan.
Foreign spectators are more numerous than in 2019, before the health crisis
In this interview at Standard, Bogdan Roscic also gave an update on the Staatsoper’s accounting situation. In September the occupancy rate was 98% and even close to 99% in November, although there were fewer tickets sold per customer. On the other hand, the number of spectators has increased significantly, in particular foreign spectators, more numerous than in 2019, before the health crisis. Regarding the traditional Vienna Opera Ball (Wiener Opernball), which he will stage for the first time, Bogdan Roscic has expressed its wish that this event be shown « in solidarity with those who currently have completely different concerns. It’s just not a ball like the others, and you can’t pretend that everything around it is business as usual”.
Philippe Gault