The Bratislava State National Theater SND, has a new director. At first glance, not an unusual headline. What makes one frown, is the fact, that this is the 3rd director in 3 seasons (!). Even more surprising is the choice this time: ... the renowned soprano Gabriela Beňačková.
Not that one would not wish Ms Beňačková this honour, there is more that makes one raise the eyebrows. It seems that the general director Silvia Hroncová seems to enjoy experimenting. During her reign, the SND replaced its directors every year. First it was Peter Mikuláš (9 months only), then Oliver Dohnányi (1 season, simultaneously conducting the Opera) and now it's Ms Beňačková's turn.
What makes me weary, is foremost Mr Dohnanyi's role. Not only initiated he the devastating turmoil in the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra - then suddenly resigning to move to the Opera, leaving a chaos behind (now in charge of an even less competent successor). During his directorship at the SND, he gave higher priorities to conduct abroad, instead of sitting down to strategically plan, making real and sound management decision. If you want to conduct, don't accept other tasks, if you have other tasks, don't focus on conducting. The result: His role is again unfinished - or not even started, again leaving a rudderless ship behind.
Now, Ms Beňačková has to take over. Not a fact to envy. Despite of her world fame, Ms Beňačková has absolutely no management experience. So why is Ms Hroncová again putting in a facade by using a celebrity, predictably just to have her replaced within a foreseeable time-frame. The repeated chaos of what Mr Dohnanyi left behind will presumably become Ms Beňačková's pitfall. Why can Ms Hroncová continue in these senseless experiments of her wheel-of-fortune-style management? And most important of all: because of the status the theater is in - no capable manager is really interested anylonger to burn his/her fingers on this precarious chore. It is again a sad chapter in Slovak cultural life; to see another prestigious institution crumble.
MS
Not that one would not wish Ms Beňačková this honour, there is more that makes one raise the eyebrows. It seems that the general director Silvia Hroncová seems to enjoy experimenting. During her reign, the SND replaced its directors every year. First it was Peter Mikuláš (9 months only), then Oliver Dohnányi (1 season, simultaneously conducting the Opera) and now it's Ms Beňačková's turn.
What makes me weary, is foremost Mr Dohnanyi's role. Not only initiated he the devastating turmoil in the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra - then suddenly resigning to move to the Opera, leaving a chaos behind (now in charge of an even less competent successor). During his directorship at the SND, he gave higher priorities to conduct abroad, instead of sitting down to strategically plan, making real and sound management decision. If you want to conduct, don't accept other tasks, if you have other tasks, don't focus on conducting. The result: His role is again unfinished - or not even started, again leaving a rudderless ship behind.
Now, Ms Beňačková has to take over. Not a fact to envy. Despite of her world fame, Ms Beňačková has absolutely no management experience. So why is Ms Hroncová again putting in a facade by using a celebrity, predictably just to have her replaced within a foreseeable time-frame. The repeated chaos of what Mr Dohnanyi left behind will presumably become Ms Beňačková's pitfall. Why can Ms Hroncová continue in these senseless experiments of her wheel-of-fortune-style management? And most important of all: because of the status the theater is in - no capable manager is really interested anylonger to burn his/her fingers on this precarious chore. It is again a sad chapter in Slovak cultural life; to see another prestigious institution crumble.
MS
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