The press here and in Salzburg is reporting that the commission charged
with finding a successor to Gerard Mortier as Artistic Director of the
Salzburg Festival has made its choice.  Peter Ruzicka, 51, is the man
and the word as of now is that he will be accepted next Thursday by the
Festspiel-Kuratorium, the body empowered to finalize the appointment.

Ruzicka is a composer, conductor, expert in law pertaining to public
performances of theater and music, as well as an outstanding musical
politician.  He succeeded Rolf Liebermann at the helm of the Hamburg Opera,
and here in Munich ran, and still runs, Hans Werner Henze's Biennale for
New Musical Theater.  Though mainly known as an avantgarde type, he is
prudent enough to have made it clear to the powers that be in Salzburg that
he will also be trying to strengthen the traditional repertoire, especially
its baroque variety.  Moreover, Mozart and Strauss cycles are promised, as
well as an emphasis on the kind of music exemplified by the works of
Zemlinsky and Korngold.

If confirmed by the Kuratorium he'll be taking over in 2001.

Denis Fodor                     Internet:[log in to unmask]