Royal Opera Director Oliver Mears Outlines New Season and Reflects on Past Controversies
Oliver Mears, the director of opera at the Royal Opera House in London, discusses the upcoming season and addresses challenges from the previous year. Following the critical acclaim of Wagner’s Siegfried, part of Barrie Kosky’s Ring cycle, Mears highlights key productions for the next season. These include a new staging of Parsifal conducted by Jakub Hrůša and directed by Evgeny Titov, a new production of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera by Philipp Stölzl, and a return of Richard Jones’s Kát’a Kabanová. Due to financial constraints exacerbated by Arts Council England cuts, there will be no main-stage operatic premieres next season. Mears emphasizes the need for each major production to be a significant success, or a bullseye, to justify the investment. The interview also touches on the broader impact of funding reductions on the UK national opera scene, affecting institutions like Glyndebourne and the English National Opera. Mears remains committed to delivering engaging performances that keep audiences on the edge of their seats, balancing artistic ambition with fiscal responsibility amidst a challenging economic landscape for the arts.
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Royal Opera Director Oliver Mears Outlines New Season and Reflects on Past Controversies
Oliver Mears, the director of opera at the Royal Opera House in London, discusses the upcoming season and addresses challenges from the previous year. Following the critical acclaim of Wagner’s Siegfried, part of Barrie Kosky’s Ring cycle, Mears highlights key productions for the next season. These include a new staging of Parsifal conducted by Jakub Hrůša and directed by Evgeny Titov, a new production of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera by Philipp Stölzl, and a return of Richard Jones’s Kát’a Kabanová. Due to financial constraints exacerbated by Arts Council England cuts, there will be no main-stage operatic premieres next season. Mears emphasizes the need for each major production to be a significant success, or a bullseye, to justify the investment. The interview also touches on the broader impact of funding reductions on the UK national opera scene, affecting institutions like Glyndebourne and the English National Opera. Mears remains committed to delivering engaging performances that keep audiences on the edge of their seats, balancing artistic ambition with fiscal responsibility amidst a challenging economic landscape for the arts.
The Guardian