The appointment of Dutchman Ivan Van Kalmthout as artistic director of the National Theater of São Carlos “is suspended today, by agreement”, said a statement from the board of directors of OPART – Artistic Production Organization, EPE sent this evening to PÚBLICO after the newspaper tried to confirm the news of the dismissal of the artistic director of the Ministry of Culture and the National Theater of São Carlos. No further explanations were provided.
Ivan Van Kalmthout has been Artistic Director of the São Carlos National Theatre since July 1, 2023, succeeding Elisabeth Matos. He was chosen through a competition and his term ends on June 30, 2027.
They added that “the artistic activity of the National Theater of São Carlos, that is, the preparation and presentation of the 2024-2025 season, will continue with the greatest possible serenity, fulfilling its public service obligations,” explaining that a memorandum of termination was submitted on Thursday to the office of the Minister of Culture.
Before arriving in São Carlos, Ivan Van Kalmthout had extensive experience in artistic direction and troupe management in several European theaters, such as the Staastoper Unter den Linden in Berlin and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, and was selected among 22 candidates. At the time, PÚBLICO reported that in the opinion of the jury that selected him, his proposal was “ambitious, but realistic” and that it “balanced the presentation of the basic repertoire with openness to contemporary composition”, as well as “insertion into the international network of operatic productions with an emphasis on developing the careers of young national performers and strengthening the Portuguese repertoire”, while also aiming to “train new audiences and strengthen the educational program of the theater in permanent coordination with partners in the national territory and with their European counterparts”.
In this note sent to PÚBLICO, they also explain that under the provisions of Article 15, No. 10 of the Statutes of OPART, which jointly supervises São Carlos and the Companhia Nacional de Bailado, “in the event of (…) vacancy of the position before the date set for the end of the mandate, artistic directors may be appointed, on a temporary basis and without competition, by order of the member of government responsible for the field of culture, for a maximum period of 12 months.”
They add that during this period, the OPART and EPE Board of Directors and the Minister of Culture must initiate and complete a new competition.
On the website of the National Theater of São Carlos, on the page dedicated to the artistic director so far, it is explained that during his term the National Theater of São Carlos will temporarily change its facilities, due to “major restructuring works in its building”. And that Ivan Van Kalmthout’s goal will be to “offer seasons” that will attract “new audiences, usually unaccustomed to the beauty of musical theater, creating comprehensive arguments that allow them to experience intensely everything that the great opera has to offer.”
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