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
