It is the week of appointments of new managers at opera houses and festivals throughout the world. French cultural actor Olivier Descotes (*1976) has been appointed as artistic director by the Rossini Opera Festival of Pesaro for 2019 and 2020. Ernesto Palacio’s contract as general manager has been extended through 2022.
Wexford Opera Festival in south-eastern Ireland has named Rosetta Cucchi as its next artistic director, succeeding David Agler. Cucchi began her career as a concert pianist having studied at the Rossini Conservatoire in Pesaro and DAMS University in Bologna, receiving her degree in both Piano and Music History. She later received her Master’s degree from Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Pianistico di Imola. Early on she took up a parallel career as an opera director, debuting at Teatro Bellini in Catania. Since then she has worked with many opera companies throughout the world.
Wichita Grand Opera (Kansas, US) has named the opera singer Alan Held as artistic director. Held will be in charge of all artistic planning for the company beginning with the 2019-2020 season.
The Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona has named Victor Garcia de Gomar as its future artistic director. Garcia de Gomar will assume his full duties in September, coinciding with the start of the 2019-20 season. This timetable will ensure a smooth transition as the Liceu’s current artistic director, Christina Scheppelmann, quits the job. In his last position Garcia de Gomar has served as the assistant artistic director of Barcelona’s Palau de la Música since 2011.
