The Austrian Secretary of State for Culture has confirmed Dutch opera director Lotte de Beer has been named as the new Artistic Director of the Vienna Volksoper.

Beginning in September 2021, de Beer will succeed Robert Meyer, who has held the post since 2007; de Beer will be the first woman to serve in this role with the company.

De Beer is noted for her work as artistic director of Operafront, which produces small-scale, experimental works at special venues. In Vienna, she has worked with the Theater an der Wien, the Kammeroper, and the Staatsoper.

“I hope I can help shape the opera of the future,” says de Beer. “My goal is to approach the residents of Vienna, to build bridges between innovation and tradition and at the same time to inspire the world.”