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Madrid's Teatro Real boss sparks row by saying no Spaniard can succeed him Madrid's Teatro Real boss sparks row by saying no Spaniard can succeed him
(8 days later)
There aren't many things that the artistic director of the Teatro Real in Spain has in common with the manager of the English football team. But just as some believe that only an Englishman could understand how to motivate the national team, so many in Madrid believe that only a Spaniard would be capable of running one of the country's most prestigious cultural institutions.There aren't many things that the artistic director of the Teatro Real in Spain has in common with the manager of the English football team. But just as some believe that only an Englishman could understand how to motivate the national team, so many in Madrid believe that only a Spaniard would be capable of running one of the country's most prestigious cultural institutions.
And so one of the noisier controversies in the Spanish cultural world has begun. In one corner, the Teatro Real's current artistic director Gerard Mortier – a Belgian and only the second foreigner to have run the opera house – who wants to be succeeded by another outsider, arguing that there are no Spaniards capable of taking over from him.And so one of the noisier controversies in the Spanish cultural world has begun. In one corner, the Teatro Real's current artistic director Gerard Mortier – a Belgian and only the second foreigner to have run the opera house – who wants to be succeeded by another outsider, arguing that there are no Spaniards capable of taking over from him.
In the other, one of the opera's leading patrons, who has made clear his preference for a return to Spanish leadership and more traditional values. Adding further drama to the cultural row, it was revealed last week that Mortier has cancer and his wishes for the future of the opera house were expressed from a hospital bed in Germany.In the other, one of the opera's leading patrons, who has made clear his preference for a return to Spanish leadership and more traditional values. Adding further drama to the cultural row, it was revealed last week that Mortier has cancer and his wishes for the future of the opera house were expressed from a hospital bed in Germany.
Mortier, 69, told El País: "The government wants a Spaniard. That's no problem for me, so long as they're a good candidate. The important thing is not their nationality, but their quality … [but] I don't see any good candidates in Spain … this country has a number of extraordinary museum directors. But it's not the same in opera. There is no tradition here."Mortier, 69, told El País: "The government wants a Spaniard. That's no problem for me, so long as they're a good candidate. The important thing is not their nationality, but their quality … [but] I don't see any good candidates in Spain … this country has a number of extraordinary museum directors. But it's not the same in opera. There is no tradition here."
He warned that if the government imposed a candidate of whom he disapproved, he wouldn't see out his term, which is due to end in 2016. "It's ridiculous," he said.He warned that if the government imposed a candidate of whom he disapproved, he wouldn't see out his term, which is due to end in 2016. "It's ridiculous," he said.
Some observers have argued that this is what you should expect when you hire a character like Mortier, a legendary impresario with a rich history of scandal.Some observers have argued that this is what you should expect when you hire a character like Mortier, a legendary impresario with a rich history of scandal.
"He's a hugely controversial figure, and it was always going to end like this," said Luis Suñén, editor of Scherzo, Spain's leading classical music magazine. "He came to Madrid to conquer it," and he wants his legacy to be continued."He's a hugely controversial figure, and it was always going to end like this," said Luis Suñén, editor of Scherzo, Spain's leading classical music magazine. "He came to Madrid to conquer it," and he wants his legacy to be continued.
Spanish audiences tend to be older and have more conservative expectations, and while reviews of Mortier's period in charge have been good, his brusque manner has caused upset.Spanish audiences tend to be older and have more conservative expectations, and while reviews of Mortier's period in charge have been good, his brusque manner has caused upset.
Mortier's admirers argue that he has revolutionised the Teatro Real, which reopened in 1997 after a long and painful reconstruction, working with the likes of the Austrian film director Michael Haneke and the American theatre director Peter Sellars.Mortier's admirers argue that he has revolutionised the Teatro Real, which reopened in 1997 after a long and painful reconstruction, working with the likes of the Austrian film director Michael Haneke and the American theatre director Peter Sellars.
He put on an opera by Philip Glass about the life of Walt Disney and this year will see the staging of the gay cowboy film Brokeback Mountain. The New York Times described his presentation of Olivier Messiaen's St François d'Assise as "surreal, exhausting and exhilarating".He put on an opera by Philip Glass about the life of Walt Disney and this year will see the staging of the gay cowboy film Brokeback Mountain. The New York Times described his presentation of Olivier Messiaen's St François d'Assise as "surreal, exhausting and exhilarating".
He is known for shaking things up wherever he goes, from the Salzburg festival to the National Opera House in Paris, where he was general director. In 2007, he was appointed to take over at the New York City Opera but promptly quit after learning his funding was to be cut in half.He is known for shaking things up wherever he goes, from the Salzburg festival to the National Opera House in Paris, where he was general director. In 2007, he was appointed to take over at the New York City Opera but promptly quit after learning his funding was to be cut in half.
The announcement of Mortier's replacement in Madrid ought to be a matter for the classical music press only, said Suñén, but by publicly criticising his bosses, "it's become a story about more than just the opera house … it's not his job to tell the press who he thinks should follow him".The announcement of Mortier's replacement in Madrid ought to be a matter for the classical music press only, said Suñén, but by publicly criticising his bosses, "it's become a story about more than just the opera house … it's not his job to tell the press who he thinks should follow him".
The names of several contenders are circulating, including that of Joan Matabosch, the current artistic director of the Liceo in Barcelona, but according to Inés Tostón Cristóbal, spokesman for the opera house, no one has been chosen.The names of several contenders are circulating, including that of Joan Matabosch, the current artistic director of the Liceo in Barcelona, but according to Inés Tostón Cristóbal, spokesman for the opera house, no one has been chosen.
"It's not true, what's been written in the press. We started looking for someone to replace him [Mortier] many months ago," Cristóbal said."It's not true, what's been written in the press. We started looking for someone to replace him [Mortier] many months ago," Cristóbal said.
"He's been a breath of fresh air here … He has his admirers and his critics. He's in a very delicate situation [with his health] … and has always provoked a debate with his opinions."He's been a breath of fresh air here … He has his admirers and his critics. He's in a very delicate situation [with his health] … and has always provoked a debate with his opinions.
"He is unique. We need to find someone of his standing to follow him, which isn't easy. We were shocked by the seriousness of his illness, and we hope soon to find someone to follow him and put an end to all this gossip.""He is unique. We need to find someone of his standing to follow him, which isn't easy. We were shocked by the seriousness of his illness, and we hope soon to find someone to follow him and put an end to all this gossip."
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