Have your say

The Australian reports that meetings will begin tomorrow between Opera Australia's management and the advisory panel appointed to suggest candidates for the position of Music Director. The article lists a variety of contenders, including some names I've already heard mentioned and some I haven't. A host of interesting prospects. So I thought I'd turn this into a poll, which you may already have noticed in the sidebar to your right. Have your say on which of the suggested candidates appeals to you most, or suggest an alternative. Voting closes two weeks from now, at midnight on Friday March 20th. 

Comments

[wanderer]

Today's Financial Review ran a similar update by Katrina Strickland. The policy of keeping things more open and the public informed is prudent and laudable.

The article is less specific, but seems to be hinting that (an outstanding individual applicant excepted) there is a trend toward having an Artistic Director, someone culturally aware of the uniqueness of Australian opera and its place in the world and who would need to be a full time resident, together with a visiting Music Director, bringing international connections and personal experience, but not a full time resident.

Room for two polls?

My vote(s) for MD would go to Asher Fisch, a big break from the UK/Oz connection which goes back as far as I can remember, or Mark Wigglesworth, not yet on a list, but who would keep the UK (and especially the Britten) tradition alive. Or Mark Elder, who seems to have been lost to us for too long.

I'm afraid age, despite experience, is against Sir Richard Armstrong in this for me. It's not that it is especially a negative for him, but a positive for others.

Antony Walker would be fantastic; he could well be the outstanding appointee who satisfies both functions (MD and AD), except his North American commitments are probably prohibitive.

[Michael]

Poor David Stanhope, passed over again. I don't suppose they would consider asking Simone Young back either?

[JSU]

I don't know the extent of his non-musical abilities, but Ascher Fisch is an excellent conductor.

[wanderer]

Call me a pedant, call me picky, call me a pest, call me anytime you like, but there is no C in Asher.

[Sarah]

You are right, of course. My only defence is that there is one in Fisch.

[marcellous]

There are a lot of good people on your list. I expect that practical questions may be determinative. For example, I have a lot of time for Caetani, and his appointment could well appease Melbournians, but if he were to hold the appointment together with the MSO he would need to be here for more than 6 months in a year and therefore need to pay tax on both as an Australian resident. Similar considerations would presumably apply to Daniel and his WASO post.

A further problem in each case is that anyone who takes up two appointments in Australia has to consider whether they can take the risk of being out of circulation on the other side of the world to that extent.

I would prefer Walker over Briger, but maybe either appointment would be premature, or at least courageous.

I doubt if Elder would really be interested, more's the pity.

Everybody is talking about what might be done about an Artistic Administrator, but you really have to ask whether Adrian Collette's role shouldn't also be up for review. I know that's brutal, but in the circumstances why (not how - we can work that out) should it be that it isn't?

[Operalad]

I think that both Briger and Walker would be a little premature to be honest. Both talented, no doubt, but not yet "ripe".

With any of the British candidates, (especially with Tony Legge now in situ) there is a risk that it will be seen as slightly Uk-centric and the usual suspects will start their sniping from the sidelines condemning any new regime before it even starts.

That leaves Fisch, Summers or Caetani (at least from that list).

I can't see Patrick Summers leaving Houston any time soon, and they would NEED him to leave for his contribution in Australia to be serious.

I couldn't really say that I think Caetani is a good choice. Many reasons for this, some based on anecdotal stuff, others closer to home.

Asher Fisch seems to be a logical choice:
V Good Conductor. V Personable man. Experienced and with almost NO baggage as it concerns OA. All the singers with whom he has worked seem to idolize the guy, as do the orchestral players.

I think there is however, room to consider some American conductors who might be looking for an Opera House to call home.

Steven Sloane (currently @ the Bochum Symphony) or perhaps David Robertson (currently GMD @ St Louis Symphony).

Both young(ish), full of energy and ideas. Both great with Audience rapport and development, (an area that Robertson is an absolute genius at). Both experienced and talented.

Robertson in particular, would be a real coup.

It would mean appointing an Artistic Director to complete the holy trinity, someone who is in country all season, someone to be the day-to-day heart and soul of the company from an artistic standpoint, but I think Collette, either Robertson or Fisch and an Artistic Director (Christine Bullen? Lindy H? Graham Pushee?) could inculcate an exciting, (relatively) youthful and vibrant management and leadership culture that could serve the Company extremely well.

Them's just my opinion!