STEFFENS TREKKER SEG SOM DNOBs MUSIKKSJEF
Som nevnt i en note her i arkiv.klassiskmusikk.com 28. mars, har det vært vanskeligheter i samarbeidet mellom Den Norske Opera & Balletts musikksjef, Karl-Heinz Steffens og påtroppende operasjef Annilese Miskimmon. I dag kom bekreftelsen på det vi da ante i form av nedenstående brev fra Steffens til sine kolleger om at han trekker seg fra stillingen.
Hadde det ikke vært fordi vår Nasjonalopera åpenbart befinner seg i en dypt alvorlig og – ikke minst pinlig – lederkrise, hadde det vært fristende å hente frem den mer satiriske del av vokabularet.
Dear colleagues, dear friends
More than eight months have passed since I had the honour to take up the position as music director of the Norwegian Opera & Ballet. For me it has been an intensive period including the concert with Grieg and Sibelius and the new production of Cosi fan tutte in the autumn, and now recently the concert performance of Fidelio and the Norwegian premiere of Debussy’s masterpiece Pelleas et Melisande. I have gotten to know wonderful colleagues and artistically it has been a profoundly rewarding adventure. Together we have achieved some extraordinary results; it is my sincere opinion that this company with its highly qualified people and its hall with a unique acoustic and intimate atmosphere has the potential to become an important European opera house.
So it is with a heavy heart that I am writing this statement to you.
I was brought to Oslo by artistic director Per Boye Hansen. His enthusiasm, competence and ambitious plans convinced me that this could be the right place for me to build a bright future for the house together with him. Just before having been offered the position two years ago, however, I learned of the decision taken by the CEO Nils Are Karstad Lysø not to prolong Per Boye Hansen’s contract after the season 2016/17. Nevertheless, despite this decision I accepted the offer to become the Music Director of the company since I had been made so welcome by the musicians.
When Per Boye Hansen’s successor, Annilese Miskimmon, was appointed in December 2015, I was eager and open to start a dialogue with her about the future. Now, more than a year after our first contact, I have come to the conclusion that a lengthy collaboration between us will not be possible, and I have decided not to extend my contract beyond its termination date of August 2018.
Sadly I have not been able to establish a fruitful dialogue with Mrs. Miskimmon regarding the artistic planning; furthermore, I feel a lack of fundamental respect for the Music Director’s position and influence on the artistic development of the company. I have attempted to improve the collaboration in dialogue, unfortunately without achieving resolution. Since we have not been able to lay the foundations of the mutual trust so necessary to any artistic endeavour, I have concluded that it is better for all concerned that I should step down as Music Director at the end of my contract.
I deeply regret having to take this step, since I know that this will be a disappointment to many of my colleagues. Artistically my experiences in Oslo have been very rewarding; once more I particularly wish to pay tribute to the musicians of the orchestra whose work and commitment I enormously appreciate.
Sincerely
Karl-Heinz Steffens
Toppfoto: Erik Berg/DNOB
