Alexander Neef News

The Paris Opera announces the resignation of Gustavo Dudamel as Music Director at the end of the  22/23 season for personal reasons.  

Aurélie Dupont will depart as the Director of Dance at the Opéra national de Paris and Alexander Neef, Director General of the Opéra national de Paris, has accepted her resignation. Her departure will be effective on July 31, 2022.

As part of an ever-expanding outreach strategy, the Greek National Opera would like to announce its first major co-production with three leading North American opera houses: the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, the Canadian Opera Company, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The Santa Fe Opera announces the following casting updates for the 2021 Season opening on July 10 and running through August 27: Laurie Feldman will direct The Marriage of Figaro after a concept by French Director Laurent Pelly, who is unable to travel to Santa Fe due to international travel restrictions and has therefore been following rehearsals and the progress of the production from France.

After stints at ABT II and Korea National Ballet in her early career, Park started performing with the Paris Opera Ballet in 2011 and joined the company full-time the following year, becoming the company's first Korean female full-time member.

This includes all performances of 'Aida', as well as the “Concert de musique Russe” set for March 4, the Young Audience recital throughout March, the production of “Pingouin” set for March 17-22, the recital by Julie Fuchs set for March 30, and Notre-Dame de Paris, set for March and April.

The Paris Opera has published a 66-page report on diversity at its company, focusing on the Ballet, following an open letter written by five Black members of the company last year.

The Canadian Opera Company’s new podcast, Key Change, returns this winter with more fresh takes on all things opera. The second season examines opera through artistic and cultural lenses, with special guests including: current and incoming COC General Directors Alexander Neef and Perryn Leech and more.

After a year-long, international search, the Canadian Opera Company has named Perryn Leech its next General Director. Leech officially begins his position on March 1, 2021, with current COC General Director Alexander Neef continuing as company leader throughout the transition period.

Artists managers help artists to define their goals and to achieve them. They take the roles of sounding board, confidant, protector and devil's advocate - sometimes leading, sometimes following, and at times just getting out of the way. In the time of the Pandemic, what to do?

The Canadian Opera Company’s 2019/2020 season marked a year of inspired mainstage programming, increased community engagement, and new digital initiatives, as reported today at the COC’s Annual General Meeting by COC Board Chair Jonathan Morgan and COC General Director Alexander Neef.

Internationally celebrated Canadian playwright Tomson Highway, also a gifted pianist, songwriter and novelist, is the next guest in a series of pandemic Zoom chats presented by the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists.

The Santa Fe Opera’s General Director Robert K. Meya announced today the company’s exciting return to the stage in 2021 with the repertory, principal singers, conductors, directors and designers scheduled for its 64th Season.

Opéra National de Paris is considering a formal ban of blackface in its performances. This comes after over 400 of the opera's employees signed a manifesto against racial inequality.

Given ongoing uncertainty around large-scale and indoor gatherings due to COVID-19, the Canadian Opera Company will be cancelling the rest of its originally planned 2020/2021 season programming.

The Canadian Opera Company is gearing up for a reimagined fall season of physically distanced programming, called Opera Everywhere. This new slate of digital and in-person events includes live concerts, interactive learning opportunities, and deep dives into opera's past and future, all designed with community-building in mind.

The Canadian Opera Company announced today that General Director Alexander Neef will begin his new role as head of Opéra national de Paris, effective September 2020, while maintaining his responsibilities as COC General Director until a new COC leader is named and transitions into the role.

The story of David Henry Hwanga??s play  M. Butterfly, while entwined with that of Puccinia??s opera Madama Butterfly, is basically about the relationship between French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu, a Peking Opera singer. The singer, thought by all who knew her to be female, was actually male. Premiering on Broadway in 1988, the play won that yeara??s Tony Award for Best Play.

 For the first time ever, audiences around the world will have a special opportunity to watch the Canadian Opera Company's 2018 world premiere production of Hadrian, in full, online. On Monday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m. ET, in partnership with Montréal Pride Festival, the COC is hosting a free, one-night-only digital stream of the modern grand opera. The Hadrian Watch Party helps kick off one week of virtual Pride events and will feature a live Q&A session with both the composer and celebrated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor, a giant in Canadian theatre.

Given continued restrictions on large public gatherings in Toronto due to ongoing precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Canadian Opera Company will be cancelling all in-person performances, programming, and events through the fall of its 2020/2021 season.