Opéra National de Bordeaux Cuts Ties with Conductor Marc Minkowski

By Nicolas Quiroga

French conductor Marc Minkowski will not be offered a contract extension with the National Opera of Bordeaux beyond August 2022.

The decision was made as a result of reported nonconformity on the part of some members of the orchestra, who questioned the conductor’s priorities as they felt that his extended absences to work on personal projects interfered with his dedication to the company.

However, the organization does not seek to distance itself completely from the conductor, and despite the lack of a contract extension, he will continue to be linked to the company and will even lead a festival.

Minkowski, a Chevalier du Mérite, started off as a major interpreter of French Baroque works and formed “Les Musiciens du Louvre,” an ensemble that specialized in this repertory. From there he has slowly shifted his focus from the French baroque to a more ample operatic repertory that includes the works of Mozart, Handel, Donizetti, and Gluck among others.

In addition to his work with Les Musiciens du Louvre and the Opéra de Bordeaux, he has performed with the Mozarteum Salzburg, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Berlin Philharmonic, among others.

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