Finnish National Opera Names New Artistic Director

By David Salazar

The Finnish National Opera has appointed Thomas de Mallet Burgess as its Artistic Director.

He is set to commence his tenure on August 1, 2023, and is contracted for four years through the end of the 2026 -27 season. The contract comes with an optional three-year extension. Among his first assignments will be to plan repertory for the 2025-26 season.

De Mallet Burgess had been recommended by the board of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet Foundation for the position. His appointment was the result of a unanimous vote. Additionally, the company revealed that the appointment was made after hearing with personnel groups throughout the organization.

”While the orchestra, the largest of the groups, was in favor of the appointment, the singers gave a neutral statement, and the rest of the creative personnel were in favor with reservations. Among others, the latter group includes directorial assistants, pianists, line prompters and choirmasters,” the company noted in an official press release it issued.

“Finnish National Opera has a sustained and distinguished record of achievement. I am excited by the ambition of the company to develop and renew traditions and support its values of artistic excellence and collaboration. I believe that opera must speak to our time and place and look forward to working with the talented and committed community at Finnish National Opera and Ballet to explore what this means for artists and audiences in Finland including approaches to core repertoire, new work, site-specific work, and digital work. It is an honor to be appointed to this role,” de Mallet Burgess added.

 

 

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