Jump to content
This Site Uses Cookies. If You Want to Disable Cookies, Please See Your Browser Documentation. ×

Johan Kobborg to run Romanian National Ballet


Recommended Posts

This is a very strange turn of events, just three days after the local premiere of Manon. Alina Cojocaru and Friedemann Vogel were to dance the ballet on Sunday, but what now? Cojocaru is still listed as a permanent guest artist, but who knows for how much longer. There is an "International Dance Gala" scheduled for the end of the month, and a triple bill of In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, In the Night and Theme and Variations is to premiere in June. What could have prompted the opera house to throw all this into doubt?

Link to comment

It would seem that an interim general manager, a conductor called Tiberiu Soare has been appointed to run the opera house. It is being said that although Kobborg has been undertaking the function of the ballet's artistic director he did not sign a contract as artistic director as the post does not actually exist.It all sounds very odd to me. There is also the suggestion that Mr Soare does not think that English has any place in a Romanian national institution. It is unclear what Mr Soare's attitude is to the foreign dancers currently working in the company or whether he knows or cares about the extraordinary transformation Kobborg has made in the short time he has been with the ballet company..

It is at times like this that you realise that they do things very differently in the non English speaking world. I know that Rojo is reported as saying that she would not want to run a Spanish company because directing artistic organisations in Spain is heavily influenced by politics. Tenure has everything to do with which politicians are in power and very little to do with ability and competence. It looks as if the same may be true in Bucharest.

Kobborg is in the fortunate position of being a man with an international reputation who now has acquired an impressive track record as an "artistic director" and a transformational leader in a very short space of time. It will be very interesting to see how events unfold in Bucharest and what Kobborg does next.

Link to comment

Yes, they're a package deal.

"Dear audience to the Manon show @OperaBucharest on the 10th,I want to let you know that I have not yet been contacted by the new direction.."

https://twitter.com/DancingAlina/status/717733963545108481

"I will be be performing ONLY under the management that made this ballet happen for our audience to enjoy, with @KOBBORG as our leader!!"

https://twitter.com/DancingAlina/status/717734011049746432

She does have plenty of work elsewhere, at the English National Ballet and the Hamburg Ballet. Today she is performing The Lady of the Camellias in Munich.
https://www.staatsoper.de/en/staatsballett/productioninfo/die-kameliendame/2016-04-06-19-30.html

Link to comment

There could still be considered to be an oral contract between Kobberg and the company, as surely there were material terms bargained for, agreed upon and executed, such as compensation and duty, regardless as to whether there was a formal job title. Kobberg's duties would not come under the job description of any similar person at the company. That's depending on what the civil statutes are Romania. It all is very underhanded and artistically stupid.

Link to comment

I agree with Katherine that this thread is not in the most appropriate of places!

Dance Europe magazine has just posted on FB:

"Johan Kobborg and Opera National Bucharest

Great news coming from Bucharest - it transpires that a new position of artistic director of the ballet company is to be created and that Johan Kobborg will be given the power to direct the ballet company of Opera National Bucharest."

https://www.facebook.com/DanceEurope/?fref=ts

Link to comment

Whatever was going on ... sounds like good news for Kobborg and the company.

(Though I must admit one of my first thoughts about the seeming dismissal was...'gee I wonder if this means Cojocaru might look for more dance opportunities in the U.S.?' It's the selfish gene.)

Link to comment

I think that in most countries where the artistic companies (opera, dance, symphonies, theatre, museums, etc. etc.) are largely supported by tax-monies, the politics play a much larger, or at least much more visible role in deciding who has "power" to direct and run the various institutions than they do in, say, the USA.

that said, this is all quite mysterious - and the timing of the various announcements does seem somewhat odd.

I hope for the best for all concerned!

-d-

Link to comment

I think that in most countries where the artistic companies (opera, dance, symphonies, theatre, museums, etc. etc.) are largely supported by tax-monies, the politics play a much larger, or at least much more visible role in deciding who has "power" to direct and run the various institutions than they do in, say, the USA.

Yes, there in the USA it's the donors who decide. What is better???? Maybe you should make a difference between countries like Romania and France, Denmark, Germany etc, Diane.

Link to comment

Yes, there in the USA it's the donors who decide. What is better????

IMO, it is too bad that this beautiful art form has come down to this....judged by those whom not necessarily have any performing arts background! Seems all so political and unfortunate for the true artists who does this for the love of it all! :(

Link to comment

I'm really dubious that for two years Johan Kobborg was working as AD sans contract. I assume there must have been some contract about his salary, his duties, etc. Unless he was actually given a vaguely worded role like "artistic consultant" or something. So either his contract was cancelled by the new director, or this was a massive case of failing to read the fine print in a contract.

Link to comment
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...