Oslo Opera headless

The Scottish opera director Paul Curran has resigned as head of the Norwegian Opera in Oslo, two years before his contract was due to end. 

Curran, who recently directed The Tsar's Bride for the Royal Opera House, was widely criticised in Norway for his management style and his lack of support for new works - not mentioned in his press statement: "When I took the job as head of the opera, it was because it meant a new challenge for me personally and career wise. My goal was to establish the company in its new home in Oslo. I am enormously proud to have done just that. Not least, I am proud with talented colleagues to have lifted the company into a new and international level. After four years the time has come for the baton can and perhaps should be left to someone else, and for me to seek new challenges."

The position will shortly be advertised, with an application deadline of 1 September. Fancy a go?

Comments

[Charlie Borne]

I do hope this means he'll be doing more work over here, Tsar's Bride was a fabulous production in every way!

[Vecchio John]

The new season certainly looks undaventurous , but as with a lot of new builds all the budget goes on the architecture with insufficient money left to present an exciting programme.

[Nikolaus Vogel]

It was a slightly odd appointment in the first place and I think it is always difficult for a foreigner to go in and run a place without long familiarity with the local situation. Did he learn Norwegian? And had he run anything as big as an opera house before? He seems to be getting plenty of freelance work, so it's probably not a big reverse, career-wise.

[Angela Rodion]

Paul Curran is fluent in Norwegian, which is pretty amazing. One of the Norwegian interviews I read mentions his fluency.

I believe he speaks many languages. The big problem in Scandinavia is the business of no one being allowed to consider themselves above anyone else. I read an interview with him where he mentioned that the orchestra complained that there were too many Saturday night performances, and if that is their attitude what can anyone do? Imagine Covent Garden being closed on a Saturday night because the orchestra didn't want to work? No, I can't either! I've been to Oslo several times since the new house opened and have enjoyed what I've seen there. His Rusalka in Oslo and his Tsar's Bride at Covent Garden have made me place him among the highest ranking opera directors working at the moment. His Tosca in Oslo with Guleghina was terrific too.

As an appointment, it was no odder than Keith Warner's recent appointment in Copenhagen and lets see how long he'll last there and if he learns Danish.

[Angela Rodion]

I've found the interview in English where Paul Curran's fluency in Norwegian is commented on, as well as his plans and vision for the future.

http://www.iamic.net/news/norway/paul-curran-making-magic