I noticed this press release [PDF] on the Opera Australia website last night, and now this morning The Age and The Australian have the full story. Opera Australia chairman Ziggy Switkowski has ordered "a three-month top-to-bottom review of all its current and future operations", to be carried by "yet-to-be appointed external management consultants".
A few choice quotes from The Age:
Switkowski said a "fresh set of eyes" would look at how the company could be more efficient with its government funding ... but the review will also look at management structures, programming schedules, repertoire, and marketing strategies.
And this could be promising:
[T]he review of the OA's communication strategy would look at alternatives to advertising in traditional media in favour of more website, email, texting and YouTube communication.
Not to mention this!
"Another decision is whether we should be advertising the brilliance of our opera stars and give them bigger public profiles in how we communicate. I think there is a good case for that," Switkowski said.
To which I say: Yes! Finally! About time we stopped burying the very real, if not Netrebko-wattage, star power among our ensemble and associate artists in tiny-print cast lists!
This, too, is worth noting:
The OA board has interviewed a shortlist of local and foreign applicants for the role of artistic director after the death of music director Richard Hickox last year. The board will interview a final shortlist of two by the end of the month.
Exciting stuff.
Meanwhile, both articles carry assurances from Ziggy that Adrian Collette's job is safe. And in related news, Switkowski has also announced new policies on board selection. The full article is here. And the crucial paragraph:
The OA has declared that its board members should be appointed for two three-year terms and this can be only extended for another term with unanimous board support. It has also stated that its board membership should be limited to 10 members, with an equal number of men and women. The board should have no more than five members from the same city, at least three members should have arts industry experience, and skills in arts marketing and fund-raising were needed.
This ought to make a few people a bit happier, I should think.
Sorry Sarah, off topic I know, but did you ever find out why Manon Lescaut is at 8pm on July 25th? It looked like something special would be happening that night when I got my subscription book last year, so I booked for that night specially. Love to find out why the change from 7.30pm...
Posted by: Hoffmann | Friday, June 12, 2009 at 09:46 AM
No, I still have no idea why it's at a different time. The only thing I could think was that maybe the a 7.30 start wouldn't give them enough time to take down the sets for Aida (which is the matinee) and put up those for Manon Lescaut but I don't know how likely that is. And I'd much rather a more exciting explanation!
Posted by: Sarah | Friday, June 12, 2009 at 02:16 PM
It will be the Aida!! This has happened before when Aida has been the matinee!!
Posted by: david | Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Sarah, I read today that Neil Armfield is to relinquish his position as director of Company B - could this signal good things for Opera Australia, perhaps?
Posted by: Simon | Monday, June 22, 2009 at 11:39 AM