Death of powerful French opera chief
RIPThe Académie des Beaux-Arts has announced the death of Hugues Gall, director of the Grand Théâtre de Genève for 15 years and then of the Opéra de Paris until 2004.
Hugues, who was 84, was a patrician figure who saw his certainties swept away by the radical ideas of Gerard Mortier.
Hugues took a retirement job looking after the house and gardens of the painter Claude Monet.
UPDATE: From a tribute by the Opera de Paris: The Gall era finally saw him take over the direction of the Paris Opera, a task he carried out with great determination in a house rich in diversity, but often turbulent and conflict-ridden, which affected him. But he pursued his project, with the public as his sole compass, reminding us that “the audience is my electorate”. With 95% attendance and the average age of the public down from 56 to 44 by the end of his term, he was happy to leave the house in better shape than he found it.
An important figure, whose best and most enjoyable period was with the Geneva Opera where he did great work. An elegant, cultured and witty man. Rest in peace and you will be missed.
RIP – I was often in Geneva and Paris during his days….what is left?….will come back….!
One of the greats, a gentleman and a strong consequential administrator. RIP Hughes
His time at Paris Opera was among the best ever Mortier never ever achieved and even worse is Mortier‘s pupil Mr Neef – the audience is leaving more and more but the media didn’t get it yet – they are blind and without any knowledge like those guys who generally ruin opera
Seems like the ideal way to end your years “looking after the house and gardens of the painter Claude Monet.” And, how much the term “radical ideas ” has lead to much of the dross that now infects the Lyric Stage. ‘120 days of Tosca’ currently on the stage in Munich, anyone?
Bien triste nouvelle.
Un grand nous quitte.
RIP
He has left an important legacy, not least in those he nurtured who went on to lead opera houses in their own right. Often referred to as the ‘Princesses de Gall’ their influence in the French operatic landscape has been considerable. A worthier legacy than Mortier’s, it has to be said.
His term in Paris, which roughly coincided with that of James Conlon as music director, is something I look back on with a good deal of nostalgia.