“Daniel Barenboim, the venerated musical director of Berlin’s Staatsoper who was accused this year by some of its orchestra members of creating a culture of bullying and a ‘climate of fear’ in the institution, has had his contract extended until 2027,” write Thomas Rogers and Alex Marshall in Tuesday’s (6/4) New York Times. “The decision was announced at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon by Klaus Lederer, Berlin’s highest-ranking representative for culture. Mr. Barenboim’s contract had been set to expire in 2022. In a statement, Mr. Lederer … said that a third-party investigation initiated by Berlin’s culture ministry this year, had found that ‘none of the legally relevant accusations could be confirmed.’ … Alongside his musical leadership of the Staatsoper … and his position as principal conductor of the Staatskapelle, … he has founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a youth ensemble with members from across the Middle East, and a conservatory and a concert hall. The investigation did find that there was room for improvement in the institution’s working climate … and as a result, an ombudsperson would be introduced to mediate disputes…. Mr. Lederer also noted that ‘the large majority of the orchestra’ wanted Mr. Barenboim to remain.”
Posted June 7, 2019
