Letting marketing slip through

My highly esteemed colleague in Vienna, Christian Henner-Fehr, highlighted a subject in his blog lately an article, which appeared on the web exactly at a point, where I banged my head against the same issue here in Slovakia. The original author Bernd Röthlingshöfer in his blog "... und jeztz zur Werbung" - translated as "and now to advertisement" - gives an interesting insight in the post for whom social media apparently is not intended. 

Not so much, that there is a real restricted area, but the title is meant ironically. Were it not, that I deal with it almost daily, where I still need convincing clients to get out of their academically stuffy cultural cocoon and try to interface with the world, since a huge potential market is almost exclusively expecting you to be on the web, especially on social media.

Just in short, these are examples - according to the article - where social media is off limits:

1. when no clear goals are defined
2. missing long-term strategies
3. relying on an agent, since they have hardly a clue what it is all about
4. not having inhouse the necessary competency to make a decision
5. having no time
6. having no staff
7. not fully understanding how social media works
8. their reaction to developments within social media takes too long

Again, it may look a bit like mockery, yet these aforementioned clients do exist. Even those, who combine several of the above, if not all. Wonder why they are dangling on a rope and not understanding why business is so slow.

About time to catch up, else you really let your marketing slip through your fingers.

MS

Managerial challenges

Running a cultural entity, whether an orchestra, theatre or museum is a bit of a different type of job as running a regular commercial business. Your output is far less tangible as let's say selling books or computers.

Speaking of the latter, computers do play an increasingly important role in every day's society. Let's admit it, we do search for the best train connections, the latest discounts or the next concert with the help of the browser. The web-page is therefore not just a fancy window, but provides the first impression to keep the visitor interested - hopefully to make avail of your offer.

Recently, one institution, despite hiring me in as to help our with their marketing, decided without consulting me into a totally different approach, implementing inadequate parallel web-domains, showing not just disregard for portfolio's but most of all, inadequate understanding of marketing and web-applications as such.

What became more apparent, was the total lack of leadership, where suddenly every one became an expert for another person's portfolio. 

Sad to see a another unique and valuable ensemble in Slovakia - with much international potential - go down the drain. Despite all warnings and written reports on threats, they cut their last life line. Slovak culture is hardly viable, since not only corruptions from above is damaging, but also human prestige is blocking much instead of taking a professional approach to move a bit forward.

MS

Reaching for yet a higher C

The Slovak Opera has definitively a bad spell, claims the far from superstitious author. When following the developments, every next step surpasses the amazement of the previous one. One expects that when the summit of blunders or unhappy mishaps occurred, that the next one will be a careful one, but then the opposite happens.

The new General Manager of the SND State National Theatre, was surprisingly selected. Despite initial doubts about the candidate's proven background, I decided to give some time as a kind of a benefit of the doubt gesture. The appointment was - again - slightly controversial, but let the man prove himself. Perhaps, there would finally be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Hardly, a few months have passed, when news of a sudden sacking of all three department managers was flung into the media, just one day before an important premiere-night. Not the best of PR skills. What was a bit bizarre, that the usual reasons given remained vague or rather unlikely. One cannot but be amazed. Among the immediate replacements were ... one of the selection-committee members, who appointed our best man into the saddle.

It could be argued, that perhaps most candidates will have supporters as well as those who would oppose. But such a move is definitively not adding to much of a convincing and professional image. It took too much time for an alibi (apparently embezzlement... don't be surprised). 

The credibility, alas,  has fully gone. Unless there is indeed a vested interest to keep this Opera in a muddle of scandals, then there is no other explanation but a bad spell. A never-ending story of intrigues and mismanagement. he new government fortunately has ousted the communist elements from the government. Now let us see, if they can effectively restructure the whole cultural sector, so it will become a bit more prominent in society again, more representative and more decent.

MS

How to loot your culture

Culture is a many faceted aspect of one's society. Especially nowadays Europe seems to struggle once every few months with a question about its identity. In such a situation, one would expect that governments would somewhat treasure their cultural heritage.In other words, rediscovering its value. This logic, however, is somewhat far fetched from normal day's reality. To which absurdities and contradictory policies a government could go, can be demonstrated in the case of Slovakia. 

While there is absolutely no visionary policy on art, furthermore any kind of quality artistic contribution to society is either underpaid or in most cases completely ignored. The reason should not be looked for in our present day crisis, for it has existed long before. On the one hand, bureaucratic systems keep cultural activities on the lowest possible level - either by funding poor quality (as long as your friend's friend is in charge, their financial support is secured) - but funding as a general remains sometimes uncertain even till after a performance. Risks that can hardly be carried on the shoulders of those who make a humble living from it.

As the Expo Shanghai is approaching, a bizarre anecdote came to my attention. When communicating about possibilities to be present in Shanghai for the Slovak Republic, the bottom line of the whole matter was that; "Yes you can be part of our country's representation. No, of course we will not pay you; it is obviously for the honour that you will do it to represent your country".

How arrogant can a country treat its culture is clearly demonstrated. We reached a level, where it is already expected that musicians will work for free. But even an international representation - a kind of calling-card for your own country - is worth nothing. Obviously, the managers wouldn't want to forego their juicy fees. Slovakia's culture is basically on death-row.

MS

An Odd Surprise to save the Opera?

The final verdict for the appointment to become the General Manager of the Bratislava State National Theatre (SND) has fallen. A postition which has by now gathered enough controversies, that would need supernatural attributes of the candidate, as well as a firm grip of a generalissimo, but foremost being a skilled manager - a treat which demonstratively is a rare given around the SND. One could say, some level of masochism would be required. 

In the end, what was most surprising, a candidate, who didn't want to become the GM at all - only to have his say and then keep his peace - in the end got the job: Ondrej Šoth. In these circles, life in Slovakia is far from dull and surprises are around the corner everywhere. Were it only that they would be more helpful instead of damaging. 

Interesting was one of the headlines in the economical daily Hospodárske noviny which screamed that 'scandalous foreigners want to manage the SND". When only seeing the past 3 years at the SND, I would find the label 'scandalous' rather befitting to those Slovaks, who were in charge, and ruined the whole place. Moreover, one of the Slovak candidates (and thus not or less scandalous to the newspaper author I assume), was one of the very same initiators of the decomposition of the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Need I go on?

In the end, while others are described having had a good preparation, the winner went only to give an emotional plea. Seems that romantic ideas and emotions count more than realistic visions to face managerial responsibilities.

I hardly do not dare to pronounce my feelings, where I already see this scenario to repeat itself within a relatively short time. I don't want to draw a sign on the wall. But I am afraid, that somehow something is continuously nagging in my mind, that this circus has definitively not ended yet.

MS

Da Capo for the Slovak National Theatre... al Fine?

Certain things in life have a cyclic recurrence. As we enjoy the slow yet steady return of spring as a revival of nature, it seems that even the Slovak National Theatre has awaken from hibernation. Despite years of a mismanagement-circus, costing valuable millions while at the same time the directors where coming and going like migrating birds, resulting in further soap opera-like (how striking) floating without any direction. A tragic fate for a institution, which wants to be a figure head of Slovak culture.

The Minister of Culture Marek Maďarič has showed that other matters were clearly of higher priority, as was the dubious Language Act, which was given far too much energy for a law that remains questionable [sic.]. Given the minister's background, I would have expected a bit more concern in the matter. But be it so, the gods of Slovak culture seem not to be too favourable. However, a monstrous institution without any managerial vision is a deadly combination.

Since the little coup d'état last summer, where after three directors within a few months' time, the last Opera director together with the chef-conductor as well as Drama boss demonstratively resigned and finally the General Director Ms Hroncová arrived at the only possible conclusion to finally hand in her resignation, it was somewhat quiet at the frontline.

The long awaited outcome of the hiring process in December last year, brought nothing more than surprise. None of the candidates have made it, while the current ad interim director at the last minute withdrew from the selection procedure. The reason given was agonisingly quite unconvincing.

Even the more as yesterday's news announced, that seven candidates applied for the job of General Manager. Immediately after the December's failure, it had transpired that Mr Maďarič had approached singer - and current boss of the Košice Opera - Peter Dvorský for the job. Was it pre-meditated? As these signals hurled some unpleasant discussions behind the scenes, perhaps the minister wisely changed his mind after all; hibernation period started.

The fact, that suddenly a renewed attempt is detected - at least something is happening again - made me wonder, whether I was not accidentally reading about months-old news. As among the candidates was again Pavol Smolík, who - to remind you - withdrew his candidacy at the last minute. Indeed, it was the latest news, yet it looked as if the carousel was turning again round and round, never to advance into any direction. When thinking of the wasted millions while good quality musicians hardly stand a chance to find support for their performances, it is making me far from optimistic.

One would honestly slowly start thinking, that this monstrum - the building of it took over 18 years, yet it looks inside and outside like a concept-less bunker, where even the auditorium, specifically erected for opera, has an acoustic value of a third rate sports hall - has not only a poor design but even an eerie spell. No manager appears to be able to cast that spell away. A sad prospect.

MS

Certain things in life have a cyclic recurrence. As we enjoy the slow yet steady return of spring as a revival of nature, it seems that even the Slovak National Theatre has awaken from hibernation. Despite years of a mismanagement-circus, costing valuable millions while at the same time the directors where coming and going like migrating birds, resulting in further soap opera-like (how striking) floating without any direction. A tragic fate for a institution, which wants to be a figure head of Slovak culture. The Minister of Culture Marek Maďarič has showed that other matters were clearly of higher priority, as was the dubious Language Act, which was given far too much energy for a law that remains questionable [sic.]. Given the minister's background, I would have expected a bit more concern in the matter. But be it so, the gods of Slovak culture seem not to be too favourable. However, a monstrous institution without any managerial vision is a deadly combination. Since the little coup d'état last summer, where after three directors within a few months' time, the last Opera director together with the chef-conductor as well as Drama boss demonstratively resigned and finally the General Director Ms Hroncová arrived at the only possible conclusion to finally hand in her resignation, it was somewhat quiet at the frontline. The long awaited outcome of the hiring process in December last year, brought nothing more than surprise. None of the candidates have made it, while the current ad interim director at the last minute withdrew from the selection procedure. The reason given was quite unconvincing. Even the more as yesterday's news announced, that seven candidates applied for the job of General Manager. Immediately after the December's failure, it had transpired that Mr Maďarič had approached singer - and current boss of the Kosice Opera - Peter Dvorský for the job. Was it pre-meditated? As these signals hurled some unpleasant discussions behind the scenes, perhaps the minister wisely changed his mind after all; hibernation period started. The fact, that a re-newed attempt is detected - at least something is happening - it made me wonder, whether I was not accidentally reading about months-old news. As among the candidates was again Pavol Smolík, who - to remind you - withdrew his candidacy at the last minute. Indeed, it was the latest news, yet it looked as if the carousel was turning again round and round, never to advance into any direction. One would honestly slowly start thinking, that this monstrum - the building of it took over 18 years, yet it looks inside and outside like a concept-less bunker, where even the auditorium, specifically erected for opera, has an acoustic value of a third rate sports hall - has not only a poor design but even an eerie spell. No manager appears to be able to cast that spell away. A sad prospect. MS

Certain things in life have a cyclic recurrence. As we enjoy the slow yet steady return of spring as a revival of nature, it seems that even the Slovak National Theatre has awaken from hibernation. Despite years of a mismanagement-circus, costing valuable millions while at the same time the directors where coming and going like migrating birds, resulting in further soap opera-like (how striking) floating without any direction. A tragic fate for a institution, which wants to be a figure head of Slovak culture. The Minister of Culture Marek Maďarič has showed that other matters were clearly of higher priority, as was the dubious Language Act, which was given far too much energy for a law that remains questionable [sic.]. Given the minister's background, I would have expected a bit more concern in the matter. But be it so, the gods of Slovak culture seem not to be too favourable. However, a monstrous institution without any managerial vision is a deadly combination. Since the little coup d'état last summer, where after three directors within a few months' time, the last Opera director together with the chef-conductor as well as Drama boss demonstratively resigned and finally the General Director Ms Hroncová arrived at the only possible conclusion to finally hand in her resignation, it was somewhat quiet at the frontline. The long awaited outcome of the hiring process in December last year, brought nothing more than surprise. None of the candidates have made it, while the current ad interim director at the last minute withdrew from the selection procedure. The reason given was quite unconvincing. Even the more as yesterday's news announced, that seven candidates applied for the job of General Manager. Immediately after the December's failure, it had transpired that Mr Maďarič had approached singer - and current boss of the Kosice Opera - Peter Dvorský for the job. Was it pre-meditated? As these signals hurled some unpleasant discussions behind the scenes, perhaps the minister wisely changed his mind after all; hibernation period started. The fact, that a re-newed attempt is detected - at least something is happening - it made me wonder, whether I was not accidentally reading about months-old news. As among the candidates was again Pavol Smolík, who - to remind you - withdrew his candidacy at the last minute. Indeed, it was the latest news, yet it looked as if the carousel was turning again round and round, never to advance into any direction. One would honestly slowly start thinking, that this monstrum - the building of it took over 18 years, yet it looks inside and outside like a concept-less bunker, where even the auditorium, specifically erected for opera, has an acoustic value of a third rate sports hall - has not only a poor design but even an eerie spell. No manager appears to be able to cast that spell away. A sad prospect. MS

Certain things in life have a cyclic recurrence. As we enjoy the slow yet steady return of spring as a revival of nature, it seems that even the Slovak National Theatre has awaken from hibernation. Despite years of a mismanagement-circus, costing valuable millions while at the same time the directors where coming and going like migrating birds, resulting in further soap opera-like (how striking) floating without any direction. A tragic fate for a institution, which wants to be a figure head of Slovak culture. The Minister of Culture Marek Maďarič has showed that other matters were clearly of higher priority, as was the dubious Language Act, which was given far too much energy for a law that remains questionable [sic.]. Given the minister's background, I would have expected a bit more concern in the matter. But be it so, the gods of Slovak culture seem not to be too favourable. However, a monstrous institution without any managerial vision is a deadly combination. Since the little coup d'état last summer, where after three directors within a few months' time, the last Opera director together with the chef-conductor as well as Drama boss demonstratively resigned and finally the General Director Ms Hroncová arrived at the only possible conclusion to finally hand in her resignation, it was somewhat quiet at the frontline. The long awaited outcome of the hiring process in December last year, brought nothing more than surprise. None of the candidates have made it, while the current ad interim director at the last minute withdrew from the selection procedure. The reason given was agonisingly quite unconvincing. Even the more as yesterday's news announced, that seven candidates applied for the job of General Manager. Immediately after the December's failure, it had transpired that Mr Maďarič had approached singer - and current boss of the Košice Opera - Peter Dvorský for the job. Was it pre-meditated? As these signals hurled some unpleasant discussions behind the scenes, perhaps the minister wisely changed his mind after all; hibernation period started. The fact, that suddenly a renewed attempt is detected - at least something is happening again - made me wonder, whether I was not accidentally reading about months-old news. As among the candidates was again Pavol Smolík, who - to remind you - withdrew his candidacy at the last minute. Indeed, it was the latest news, yet it looked as if the carousel was turning again round and round, never to advance into any direction. One would honestly slowly start thinking, that this monstrum - the building of it took over 18 years, yet it looks inside and outside like a concept-less bunker, where even the auditorium, specifically erected for opera, has an acoustic value of a third rate sports hall - has not only a poor design but even an eerie spell. No manager appears to be able to cast that spell away. A sad prospect. MS Certain things in life have a cyclic recurrence. As we enjoy the slow yet steady return of spring as a revival of nature, it seems that even the Slovak National Theatre has awaken from hibernation. Despite years of a mismanagement-circus, costing valuable millions while at the same time the directors where coming and going like migrating birds, resulting in further soap opera-like (how striking) floating without any direction. A tragic fate for a institution, which wants to be a figure head of Slovak culture. The Minister of Culture Marek Maďarič has showed that other matters were clearly of higher priority, as was the dubious Language Act, which was given far too much energy for a law that remains questionable [sic.]. Given the minister's background, I would have expected a bit more concern in the matter. But be it so, the gods of Slovak culture seem not to be too favourable. However, a monstrous institution without any managerial vision is a deadly combination. Since the little coup d'état last summer, where after three directors within a few months' time, the last Opera director together with the chef-conductor as well as Drama boss demonstratively resigned and finally the General Director Ms Hroncová arrived at the only possible conclusion to finally hand in her resignation, it was somewhat quiet at the frontline. The long awaited outcome of the hiring process in December last year, brought nothing more than surprise. None of the candidates have made it, while the current ad interim director at the last minute withdrew from the selection procedure. The reason given was quite unconvincing. Even the more as yesterday's news announced, that seven candidates applied for the job of General Manager. Immediately after the December's failure, it had transpired that Mr Maďarič had approached singer - and current boss of the Kosice Opera - Peter Dvorský for the job. Was it pre-meditated? As these signals hurled some unpleasant discussions behind the scenes, perhaps the minister wisely changed his mind after all; hibernation ...

Translation was truncated because of the limit at 5000 characters set by Google API.

Certain things in life have a cyclic recurrence. As we enjoy the slow yet steady return of spring as a revival of nature, it seems that even the Slovak National Theatre has awaken from hibernation. Despite years of a mismanagement-circus, costing valuable millions while at the same time the directors where coming and going like migrating birds, resulting in further soap opera-like (how striking) floating without any direction. A tragic fate for a institution, which wants to be a figure head of Slovak culture. The Minister of Culture Marek Maďarič has showed that other matters were clearly of higher priority, as was the dubious Language Act, which was given far too much energy for a law that remains questionable [sic.]. Given the minister's background, I would have expected a bit more concern in the matter. But be it so, the gods of Slovak culture seem not to be too favourable. However, a monstrous institution without any managerial vision is a deadly combination. Since the little coup d'état last summer, where after three directors within a few months' time, the last Opera director together with the chef-conductor as well as Drama boss demonstratively resigned and finally the General Director Ms Hroncová arrived at the only possible conclusion to finally hand in her resignation, it was somewhat quiet at the frontline. The long awaited outcome of the hiring process in December last year, brought nothing more than surprise. None of the candidates have made it, while the current ad interim director at the last minute withdrew from the selection procedure. The reason given was agonisingly quite unconvincing. Even the more as yesterday's news announced, that seven candidates applied for the job of General Manager. Immediately after the December's failure, it had transpired that Mr Maďarič had approached singer - and current boss of the Košice Opera - Peter Dvorský for the job. Was it pre-meditated? As these signals hurled some unpleasant discussions behind the scenes, perhaps the minister wisely changed his mind after all; hibernation period started. The fact, that suddenly a renewed attempt is detected - at least something is happening again - made me wonder, whether I was not accidentally reading about months-old news. As among the candidates was again Pavol Smolík, who - to remind you - withdrew his candidacy at the last minute. Indeed, it was the latest news, yet it looked as if the carousel was turning again round and round, never to advance into any direction. One would honestly slowly start thinking, that this monstrum - the building of it took over 18 years, yet it looks inside and outside like a concept-less bunker, where even the auditorium, specifically erected for opera, has an acoustic value of a third rate sports hall - has not only a poor design but even an eerie spell. No manager appears to be able to cast that spell away. A sad prospect. MS Certain things in life have a cyclic recurrence. As we enjoy the slow yet steady return of spring as a revival of nature, it seems that even the Slovak National Theatre has awaken from hibernation. Despite years of a mismanagement-circus, costing valuable millions while at the same time the directors where coming and going like migrating birds, resulting in further soap opera-like (how striking) floating without any direction. A tragic fate for a institution, which wants to be a figure head of Slovak culture. The Minister of Culture Marek Maďarič has showed that other matters were clearly of higher priority, as was the dubious Language Act, which was given far too much energy for a law that remains questionable [sic.]. Given the minister's background, I would have expected a bit more concern in the matter. But be it so, the gods of Slovak culture seem not to be too favourable. However, a monstrous institution without any managerial vision is a deadly combination. Since the little coup d'état last summer, where after three directors within a few months' time, the last Opera director together with the chef-conductor as well as Drama boss demonstratively resigned and finally the General Director Ms Hroncová arrived at the only possible conclusion to finally hand in her resignation, it was somewhat quiet at the frontline. The long awaited outcome of the hiring process in December last year, brought nothing more than surprise. None of the candidates have made it, while the current ad interim director at the last minute withdrew from the selection procedure. The reason given was quite unconvincing. Even the more as yesterday's news announced, that seven candidates applied for the job of General Manager. Immediately after the December's failure, it had transpired that Mr Maďarič had approached singer - and current boss of the Kosice Opera - Peter Dvorský for the job. Was it pre-meditated? As these signals hurled some unpleasant discussions behind the scenes, perhaps the minister wisely changed his mind after all; hibernation ...

Slovak Philharmonic's blues

A trend in Slovakia's music world is that incompetent managers do everything they can to destroy it. A manager is not to have any vision, responsibility for his product is completely unheard of, and it seems the only objective is to make sure your own salary is as optimal as it can be.

Slovakia's Philharmony, one would gather it to be a prestigious cultural institution to carefully nourish and use as a promotion abroad. Yet, it is a petty club of drifting musicians, victims of anything bad that Mr Murphy has put into his law. Season 2009/2010 has started quite a while ago, and only in February 2010, its newly appointed chief conductor Emmanuel Villaume finally came to town to present himself and 'his' orchestra. And till the end of the season only one more concert to follow. How about that?

True is, that it is becoming a general trend, where chief conductors spend much time abroad. But the quality of an - let's say - Amsterdam's Concertgebouw Orchestra  or a Berlin Phil is a bit more steady to absorb such shifts. While the Slovak Philharmonic has fell prey to management struggles, where one conductor after another walked out, this tactic (for hardly can it be considered a strategic choice) proves to be devastating. But in all honesty - merely 2 concerts for this season and having a status of chief conductor? What's the point? Having two heavy weight cultural centres around the corner - Vienna as well as Budapest, the burden is simply too massive to be ignored.

This so-called opening concert announced a Brahms symphony. Nr. 4. Whichever Brahms you take, any self-respecting philharmonic band needs to have this in its repertoire, and almost be able to play it by heart, no matter who is swaying the baton. Perhaps the bride and groom were so nervous during their first appearance (although it was not the very first co-operation between the orchestra and the conductor). But when even a minimal professionalism of playing together, following the maestro, among others, is not there, then the state of the orchestra is at a dramatic low. Unless it would have been a last-minute stand-in to replace a suddenly fallen ill conductor, it could be excused. This is an embarrassment. A better job could be outdone by an average amateur orchestra from Germany.

My conclusion is, despite a Mahler symphony ahead (and my acquaintances know my appetite for Mahler), the Slovak Philharmonic is no longer on my visit-list. Unfortunately.

MS

When even the minister comes

Attended an opera: While cities like Vienna and Salzburg, have regular - if not non-stop - programmes with their native composers' oeuvre, Slovakia's capital Bratislava's frequency to perform operas of its famous son Johann Nepomuk Hummel - or his compositions in general - is almost zero. You would as why? I simply don't know. Perhaps, it's too much of a burden. But, last Sunday, Hummel's opera Mathilde de Guise was performed, and remarkably in an HIP version. Historically Informed Performance. Not the standard modern instruments, but real gut-strings, natural horns and trumpets, etc. A tantalising flavour for real connoisseurs.

It was a great surprise, that unlike during the Slovak (and world!) première of the opera Svätopluk by Eugen Suchoň, which has been hailed as the nation's national opera by the government leaders earlier, but where not one single dignitary bothered to be present, at this performance, lo and behold the Minister of Culture himself was present. Would he suddenly demonstrate interest in early music?

The performance itself was merely a concertante\show. Usually, players and singers are the one who suffer and sweat. The builders of the opera made sure that this suffering was to be more balanced; not only the acoustics of the auditorium (especially erected for operas!) is a dull as a gymnasium, they made sure, that the temperature in the hall would be at around 28 degrees centigrade, which - at least if you didn't show up in bermuda shorts and t-shirts, your going-out wardrobe became more than just uncomfortable. 

The whole project - as it was obvious - was hardly worthy than it would befit. A clever marketing boss from Bratislava would make this into a happening with fireworks, with prestigious drumrolls and streamlined PR. As the conductor himself was no one else but Maestro Didier Talpain, who happens to be in fact the cultural attaché of the French Embassy, and is using the French tax-payers' money to sponsor his own conducting projects at the expense of many Slovak musicians, it was exactly this what was wrong with the whole happening. A poorly planned musical one-nigh-stand to inflate monsieur Talpain's ego. 

But yet, since a diplomat sent an invitation, the minister bothered to attend, even if all of the early music attempts are gravely ignored by his bureaucrats. Perhaps it looks as a good sign, yet it is a harsh but real sarcasm. Only the really impressive performance and singing technique by Íride Martínez was a balming compensation for the whole.

MS

When culture seems not to matter any longer

Sadly enough, my observations throughout the past few years on Slovak culture have been a bit grim, to put it mildly. Minister Maďarič, who is bestowed with the honour of keeping a watchful eye on Slovakia's cultural institutions and developments, has - contrary of what one would expect from him - shown little interest in this field. 

Perhaps life has become too fast for the Culture Ministry to notice all the developments. Not only was it visible, that the demolition tactics within the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra has devastated the foundation of the oldest professional orchestra in Slovakia, money wasting in the Slovak Philharmonic by its Manager Mr Lapšanský was equally alarming, which on top was marked by again a walk-out of another Chief Conductor, Maestro Feranec. Not the first one, to leave because of internal conflicts, hardly the last. Equally with the National Museum, who is run by incompetence and letting its foreign partners in deep despait, as their project of manuscript conservation is in jeopardy. 

The State Opera has had the most dubious set of Managers' switches, with a mysterious misty shroud of quiet spokespersons, no press releases or contradictory statements. If you have every few months a new director, especially since your club is running on public tax payers' money, you have to explain a lot. Not so in Slovakia. In the best scenario, the Ministry is closing an eye and hoping that public either will not notice, or quickly forget. 

But never mind the small change - who in Europe has ever heard of a Slovak National Museum, a Slovak Philharmonic (unless you are a NAXOS collector) or the like. Better, when Slovakia has proudly boasted of making its Eastern Slovak city of Košice into a European Capital of Culture! Prestige all over from Alaska to Tahiti. So one would expect, at least.  

Nevertheless, as it appeared in the newspapers today; the prestigious project, backed by patronage the Ministry of Culture and Brussels to turn this little gem into a capital in 2013, and to make in a dazzlig cultural town full with events, it appears that the Ministry has somewhat failed to fulfill its financial obligations. One would ask why. Not that the State has gone suddenly bankcrupt. The reasons are vague, to say the least. It's just ... political. 


This is definitively not the first time, where cultural projects are bleeding because of the incompetence, to move forward, or to at least stick to the set deadlines to deliver reports, decisions or what you have. A bureaucratic moloch, which shows hardly any interest in supporting culture at all.

Knowing, that the Manager, Ms Zora Jaurová, who as usual thoroughly prepared all documentation is far from happy. The whole project is at peril, perhaps to fatally end in a disaster. I know the feeling. Unfortunately, Mr Maďarič doesn't. Another case, where Slovakia has lost international prestige and added another embarrassment to its list. I am afraid, it's far from the last scandalous result of the present government. The frustrations of all those, who put their heart, soul and endless energy, ending up with empty hands cannot be described. In Slovakia, officially culture seems not to matter any more. One can only pray for a miracle, but almost too much harm has been done. 

MS 

Opera Soap

After the last stalemate in the candidacy race to become the next lucky (perhaps rather unlucky) General Manager of Slovakia's National Opera, there is - believe it or not - some movement. In fact, any movement would be more than welcome, as the incompetency of not being able to find a suitable manager for a prestigious organisation like the Opera is really becoming more than embarrassing.

The fact remains that for more than three years a centralist management has been causing many upheavals and controversies, where the Opera wore out every few months another manager. Controversially mainly because all new incumbents were hailed as the brighter than bright future, leading the Opera to the heights of European, eh no: even World level! The dream-team bubble burst only within a too short a period, with a record of merely 3 months to be attributed to the famous singer Gabriela Beňačková. Whoever was to blame, three in a row was simply too much of a coincidence, yet it had to take a coup-d'état of 3 directors had to take place, before the General Manager Ms Hroncová was forced to step down.

While these things might equally happen in any other country as well, what is a bit frustrating or disturbing is the fact, that misty and vague interviews (if any) are given, leaving an odd flavour of political intrigues and hidden agendas. But let's call it sheer mismanagement.

As I described in one of my earlier blogs on this, 7 new candidates submitted their applications to the selection committee. For some unconvincing reasin one candidate withdrew one day before the interviews. The outcome: nobody made it. Fulfilling al requirements, plus handing in a fully elaborated strategic business plan seemed not sufficient enough to convince the committee to pick the right successor. 

Then Minister of Culture offered the famous singer Peter Dvorský - currently also in charge of the Košice Opera - to become the next General Manager. Although in this was suspected for a long time, this obviously was far from a surprise. Knowing, that Mr Dvorský has aspirations for this post, there is however a slight twist to the matter; somehow, Mr Dvorský didn't meet the requirements as stipulated in the aforementioned selection procedure. Since this was unsuccessful, now the Minister can adjust the requirements according to his own discretion, paving the way for a selected... well; preselected candidate. 

Whether Mr Dvorský would be able to manage the SND Opera is debatable. What is a big shame is the murky process. A farce to justify the next political moving of the chess figures on the board. A slight sense of exhaustion takes hold of me when I try to fathom all this fiddling around and wasting money just to play the pathetic old game of who gets what. Bratislava will probably never reach any level at all with its Opera, neither the global, nor the European standard. It's a costly soap situated in a provincial village where nobody cares. Very costly with a dragging yet sad ending.

MS