Gerard Mortier
Gerard Alfons August, Baron Mortier (born 25 November 1943, Ghent) is a Belgian opera director and administrator of Flemish origin.
Mortier has served as general director of La Monnaie (Brussels) (1981–1991) and of the Salzburg Festival (1990–2001). He was a founding director of the Ruhr Triennale arts festival in Germany, and then he became general director of the Opéra National de Paris in 2004.[1] He relinquished this post in 2009.
In February 2007, the New York City Opera (NYCO) named him their next general director, effective as of the 2009/2010 season.[2] Mortier assisted with company operations from Paris during the interim period after his appointment was announced. Problems with fund-raising and a smaller-than-expected budget began to develop during the interim period after Mortier's appointment. At one point, there was controversy during this time over speculation that Mortier was campaigning for a position as co-artistic director of the Bayreuth Festival. In November 2008, by mutual agreement, Mortier and the NYCO agreed to terminate their contract, and that he would not become NYCO's general director.[3]
Late in November 2008, the Teatro Real of Madrid announced the appointment of Mortier as its next general director, effective September 2010.[4]
[edit] Academic career and awards
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- Professor of Communication Science, Ghent University, Belgium
- Honorary doctorate University of Antwerp, Belgium
- Honorary doctorate University of Salzburg, Austria
- National medal of honor from Belgium
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1991)
- French Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
- Member of the Academy of Arts of Berlin
- Golden medal of the Círculo de Bellas Artes of Madrid
[edit] References
- ^ John Rockwell (15 May 2003). "Tempting Audiences To German Rust Belt; Ruhr Triennale Flouts Tradition". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07EED61E3FF936A25756C0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
- ^ Daniel J. Wakin (28 February 2007). "City Opera Lures Director From Paris". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/arts/music/28oper.html. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
- ^ Daniel J. Wakin (7 November 2008). "Bold Impresario and City Opera Part Ways". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/arts/music/08oper.html. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
- ^ "El Teatro Real ficha a Gérard Mortier". El País. 26 November 2008. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Teatro/Real/ficha/Gerard/Mortier/elpepucul/20081126elpepucul_8/Tes. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
