Vienna Opera: The exodus begins
mainManuel Legris has just told the incoming director of Vienna State Opera, Bogdan Roščić, that he won’t stay on as ballet director when his contract ends in August 2020.
He was appointed by the present director, Dominique Meyer, in 2010.
The Viennese are now reading between the lines of Legris’s parting statement: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank the current Director of the Vienna State Opera, Dominique Meyer. He appointed me as Ballet Director; without him, my splendid adventure with the Vienna State Ballet simply wouldn’t have been possible. And: I could always be sure of his continual support – he has actively contributed to the standing of the Company both in and
out of House. I thank the incoming Director of the Vienna State Opera, Bogdan Roščić for his vote of confidence – I have stressed to him how much the Company means to me and he has my full support, both in the process of finding a successor and, of course, in the handover of management.’
photo: Pöhn/Staatsoper
I’m not sure I understand the negative undertone of this article. It’s not at all unusual for the ballet director to leave after a ten-year tenure. His predecessor Harangozó stayed for five years, and Zanella before him for four.
It used to be called “a career”.
Zanella stayed much longer than that.
But it is true that it is not unusual to look for a different challenge.