Bucharest latest: Culture Minister refuses to leave
mainProfessor Vlad Alexandrescu who resigned last week over the chaos at the national opera is now saying he won’t go unless he can nominate his successor.
Staff at the opera, among them those who led the campaign against the engagement of foreign artists, have demanded his instant dismissal (you can read their statement below).
Meanwhile, at least six performances have been lost and the institution is paralysed.
The majority of the artists, technicians and employees of the National Opera of Bucharest and the majority of the creators and technicians from the cinema industry are joining forces to demand the imediate and official removal from office of Mr. Vlad Alexandrescu and his team, because under the cover of an alleged reform they initiated and put in place an ample action of accaparation of the public funds and destruction of culture institution in favour of group interests.
We ask for a correct management team to be installed in the ministery, who, simultanously with a transparent investigation of the legallity of the minister and his group of interests decisions, to start a true reform in the culture.
Pretty surreal what happens in Romania…
I must think ‘accaparation’ is supposed to be ‘accaparement’ — French for ‘monopolizing’. It’s a muddy statement, but the last eight words would suggest these people have more targets in mind than just the opera. However, the translation is none too good, so I’ll await a fuller and far more transparent explanation.
Well, initially, the same artists expressed their regrets for Alexandrescu’s departure, as they considered that he took at least two “extraordinary” decisions: appointing Mr. Tiberiu Soare as interim manager of BNO, and later Mr. Vlad Conta for the same position.
You seem to be in the dark, Mr. Pătrașcu. Let me put you up to date, here is the evening release.
Release
On the evening of May 3, 2016 was held a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Vasile Dancu and representatives of the National Opera in Bucharest teams. Discussions resulted in the following priorities:
1. Appointment, urgently, of a correct and competent interim management .
2. institutional separation, by government decision, of the National Opera in Bucharest and the National Operetta Theatre “Ion Dacian” .
3. The activities of the two institutions will focus on repertoire policies.
4. Ending as soon as possible the emergency infrastructure work of the National Opera House in Bucharest and the completion of construction of the National Operetta Theatre “Ion Dacian”.
Parties have expressed hope to reach a situation of institutional normality made primarily for the benefit of our audience .