Around the Music Festival

Philippe Jordan, music director of the Vienna State Opera, announced in an interview with the Austrian daily newspaper “The Courier” that he will step down in 2025, when his term of office expires.

In it, he hinted at his disappointment with the theater’s management led by Bogdan Roscic, and his apparent disagreement over the conductor to be invited.

Jordan was born in Zurich and is 47 years old. He is the father of conductor Armin Jordan, who previously served as Music Director of the Opéra National de Paris (2009-2021) and Chief Conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (2014 -2020). He was appointed Music Director of the Vienna State Opera in the 2020/2021 season, succeeding Franz Welser-Möst.

In the interview, he also expressed a growing sense of crisis about the opera world, saying that it is “leaning in an unusual direction.

He said: ‘I believe that, as far as directing is concerned, our theatre has taken a fatal wrong path for a long time. … Ultimately, this path leads to inevitable failure in the long run…. nI don’t have the feeling that artistic directors, dramaturgs and especially directors are really interested in this interaction between theatre and music.’

In response, Roscic also said, “Jordan and I had a thorough discussion over the summer about the theater’s operating plan beyond 2025. He wanted to extend his contract through 2030 and I could not do so for other reasons. Therefore, I do not wish to comment further on his statement. It is neither in the interest of the National Opera House nor in the interest of Jordan,” he told local media.

Photo：Opéra national de Paris