HANDOVER CEREMONY FOR ALEXANDER NEEF AT THE HEAD OF THE OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS

USPA NEWS - Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, Minister of Culture, is pleased to welcome Alexander Neef to the management of the Opéra national de Paris and to announce the launch of two missions on the prospects of the Opéra national de Paris and the policy of support for lyrical art in France.Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin wanted to organize, at the Ministry of Culture, this Tuesday, September 1, the handover ceremony at the head of the Opera national de Paris between Stephane Lissner and Alexander Neef. Stephane Lissner, who will have directed the Opéra national de Paris for 6 years, offering a rich and daring program while ensuring to diversify the resources of the establishment, is now the director of the San Carlo lyric theater in Naples, where he works. his talent at the service of one of the most prestigious and ancient lyric theaters in Europe.

ALEXANDER NEEF BECOMES MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OPERA NATIONAL OF PARIS ------------------------------- Alexander Neef, who was appointed in July 2019 foreshadowing director of the Opéra national de Paris, becomes from September 1 its managing director. In addition to his new management roles, he will retain his responsibilities with the Canadian Opera Company until the assumption of his successor. Alexander Neef offers an ambitious lyrical and choreographic project for the Opéra national de Paris, which gives an important place to the French repertoire and combines the maintenance of an artistic level of excellence with the challenges of democratization, the search for new audiences and development of arts education.During this ceremony, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin also announced the launch of two missions: 1) A MISSION ON THE PERSPECTIVES AND METHODS OF ACCOMPANIMENT AND SUPPORT OF THE OPERA NATIONAL OF PARIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In order to inform the decisions that will have to be taken for the future, a mission has been entrusted to Georges-François Hirsch, former administrator of the Opéra national de Paris and to Christophe Tardieu, former deputy director of the establishment. In the context of the health crisis, it will be up to them to carry out an inventory and draw up medium and long-term future prospects for the Opera. The conclusions of this mission are expected by the end of November 2020. 2) A REFLECTION ON THE POLITIC OF LYRIC ART IN FRANCE A second mission will be entrusted to Caroline Sonrier, director of the Lille Opera, with the aim of drawing up an inventory of lyrical art in France, by examining the existing artistic offer, the different economic models, as well as the democratization policies pursued by lyric theaters in the territories.It will draw up a frame of reference for the practice of lyric art in France, with proposals aimed at ensuring the sustainability of this sector. The mission will pay particular attention to the territorial registration of operas, in conjunction with partner communities, to support for young composers and performers, as well as to collaborations that opera houses can maintain with each other. Source : Ministry fo Culture