The German news agency dpa is reporting that very shortly Gerard
Mortier will be officially selected to head the Paris opera.  The Belgian
Mortier, in his ten years as the Salzburg Festival's chief, modernized and
revivified the program there--to the displeasure of traditionalists and
delight of the progressives.  Since last October he's been in charge of the
Ruhr Festival and in addition will be in heading a new Triennial Festival
in the same area.  He will taking over in Paris in 2004 from Hugues Gall.

Mortier is controversial, but whatever he runs makes a splash and draws
keen interest.  That's what has been lacking so far not only at the
well-endowed Ruhr Festival but also at the very competent but unexciting
Paris opera.  (Mortier's successor at Salzburg, Peter Ruzicka, is cutting
back on the avant-garde exposure that Mortier gave the Festival.)

Denis Fodor