Position description and required profile

The Royal Swedish Opera

Artistic Director of Opera

2019

Novare I Blasieholmsgatan 4B, 111 48 I Novare.se

The Royal Swedish Opera, Artistic Director of Opera

About the The Royal Swedish Opera The Royal Swedish Opera, colloquially “Operan” is ’s national theatre for opera and ballet, founded by King Gustav III in 1773. Operan is a state-owned company with an approximate turn-over of 580 million SEK, employing around 800 people in 120 different professions. The house stages each season around 200 opera and ballet performances along with regular symphonic and chamber concerts. According to the Swedish government’s appropriation directions, the Royal Swedish Opera shall be the leading institution in the field of opera and ballet in Sweden. As the national stage, Operan shall lead the way when it comes to development, renewal, artistic quality and craftmanship in the studios and workshops. The Royal Swedish Opera shall be part of international opera and dance contexts. Operan shall also encourage exchanges between people from different cultures and initiate partnerships, such as those with other national stages, in Sweden or other opera houses around the world. The vision for The Royal Swedish Opera is to be accessible to everyone and to inspire a depth of emotions. The core values guiding Operan’s everyday activities are: Fearless, High Quality, Welcoming and Timeless. For more information about the mandate, vision and values, please see “The Royal Swedish Opera’s Management and Employees philosophy”.

Current situation The Royal Swedish Opera respects tradition while embracing the future in their three main artistic areas: Opera, Ballet, and Young at the Opera. Every year many productions are staged: everything from brand new works to classical masterpieces. 2018 was yet another successful year for The Royal Swedish Opera and averaged around 91% of its capacity with a total number of visitors exceeding 290 000. The Royal Swedish Opera offers a stimulating and versatile repertoire with high artistic quality and breadth which is reflected in the number of visitors. An important goal for Operan is to reach and attract new audience, in particular first time audiences and young audiences either by inspiring them to come to the opera house or by watching performances via various digital platforms. To enable more people to enjoy The Royal Swedish Opera’s performances, as well as to broaden the audience and the way performances are created, a digitalisation project is high on the agenda. Operan’s opera and ballet performances are via this media made available nationally and internationally. The Royal Swedish Opera is a member of the organisation Opera Europa and the digital platform Opera Vision. In 2016 The Swedish Government approved a major renovation project called NOIO: a new Opera within the old Operahouse. The project comprises the renovation of the old building and the building of an extension to the opera house which will include a second stage, orchestra and ballet rehearsal rooms. The NOIO-project will hopefully get a final approval soon. If and once the NOIO project is approved, the closing of the Opera house is planned through 2023-2027. During these years the Royal Swedish Opera will be performing at other venues in the Stockholm area and be touring in Sweden as well as internationally. Internally, this period goes under the name “the C/O period”. Although challenging, this also opens for the Royal Swedish Opera to show its performances to all of Sweden and internationally, as well as produce opera adapted to new stages and locations.

Fredrik Hillelson, +46(0)735-20 00 62, [email protected] 2 (5) Pia Sergo, +46 (0) 739 86 51 44, [email protected]

The Royal Swedish Opera’s current Managing Director and Artistic Director of Opera, Birgitta Svendén, has successfully led The Royal Swedish Opera for 10 years. As a result of her leadership, The Royal Swedish Opera has taken progressive steps regarding repertoire and artistic ambition and has attracted high profile and world class artists from all over the world to work for the company. Birgitta Svendén and the Management Group have also worked proactively to create an inclusive and open work environment by involving and empowering the employees. During the four years left of her assignment as the Managing Director, Birgitta Svendén will be focusing on the renovation and rebuilding project and the overall leadership of the Royal Swedish Opera. The Managing Director and the Board of The Royal Opera have therefore decided to recruit an Artistic Director of Opera and Birgitta Svendén will focus on her role as Managing Director. The Artistic Director of Opera will be overall responsible for continuing the development of the artistry of the operatic area. The position as Artistic Director for the field of Opera at The Royal Swedish Opera is one of the most distinguished assignments on the Nordic opera scene and one of the premier objectives will be to further strengthen The Royal Swedish Opera’s position as one of Europe’s most prominent Opera houses. For more information about The Royal Swedish Opera, please visit www.operan.se/en/

The Position The Artistic Director at the Royal Swedish Opera is responsible for leading the artistic development in the field of opera. The Artistic Director leads the opera department in producing both traditional and contemporary operatic performances. The Artistic Director will report to the Managing Director and be a member of the Management Group. A challenge for this assignment, but also a unique opportunity, will be the planning and the production of an operatic repertoire during the (most likely) upcoming C/O period. Specifics of the assignment include to: • lead, develop and manage The Royal Swedish Opera’s artistic assignment and opera department in line with The Royal Swedish Opera’s overall assignment and vision • be responsible for the programming of opera titles • be responsible for the overall budget for the department of opera • commission new works from both national and international creators • be responsible to cast and engage artistic teams • be an active participant in the production of opera and work in close collaboration with the production and technical managers as well as the artistic teams • represent the Royal Swedish Opera in forums around the art of opera, nationally and internationally as well as in fundraising events and meetings o Initiate international collaborations • be an active participant in the Management Group and in the overall management of the Royal Swedish Opera • work in close collaboration with the other artistic directors in balancing and achieving an overall repertoire for the Royal Swedish Opera • embody the Royal Swedish Opera’s Management and Employee philosophy

Fredrik Hillelson, +46(0)735-20 00 62, [email protected] 3 (5) Pia Sergo, +46 (0) 739 86 51 44, [email protected]

Desired profile

Background and experience • Internationally recognised in their field with a broad artistic background from opera or the equivalent • Thorough experience from leading a highly artistic and renowned opera department/opera house • Solid experience from planning and realising a diverse operatic repertoire and engaging creative teams o Extensive network with highly renowned opera artists, directors, costume and lighting designers, and scenographer • Extensive background with profit and loss responsibility and good knowledge of budgeting • Strong international reputation and global outlook • Good understanding of and experience from working and negotiating with unions • Experience from planning and organizing festivals is a plus

Personal characteristics • Confident and modern leadership qualities with the ability to empower co-workers, a professional in every aspect of the leadership assignment • High integrity, fearless and decisive • Inventive, creative, inspiring and energetic • Strong and clear communication skills • Collaborative approach - ability to create solid, professional relationships internally and externally, a good team player • Strong interest in the overall development of The Royal Swedish Opera • Ability to create an inclusive work environment

Fredrik Hillelson, +46(0)735-20 00 62, [email protected] 4 (5) Pia Sergo, +46 (0) 739 86 51 44, [email protected]

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Fredrik Hillelson, +46(0)735-20 00 62, [email protected] 5 (5) Pia Sergo, +46 (0) 739 86 51 44, [email protected]