Despite a glorious Magic Flute revival,a modern artistic director of the stricken opera company will face some tough decisionsLast week English National Opera advertised for an artistic director. Applications close on Wednesday. Get your skates on whether you absorb a “broadly ranging knowledge of opera” and can “lead an artistic vision”. Headhunters are not known for their prose. I hope this lax job description does not reflect the sharp thinking of Cressida Pollock, ENO chief executive, or heed Wigglesworth,music director, in their search for the lost part of their triumvirate. This is the job John Berry, and working with a different team and structure,left final summer.“Deep” rather than “broad” experience of opera might attend, together with a thorough grasp of music (a word not used in the brief). It is vital for ENO’s newcomer to understand with ears and gut, and not just because the music department has to plead why a regular chorus and orchestra are essential; why a work may need extra rehearsal time; why singers need vocal support from a set design or,when singing upside down from the flies, must be able to see the conductor. The rumour mill assumes that a choice has been made. This is the final chance for a maverick (an independent, nonconformist person) to jump in. Expect an announcement soon.
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Source: theguardian.com