I would like them to embrace being opinionated.
by Shannon Christy
@schristy79
(photo credit: bohuang.ca)
CHARPO: In 2008 in an interview with the CBC you briefly sketched your vision for the COC and among those you included attracting new stars, creating a high quality repertoire and commissioning new operas. Four years later how do you feel about those goals?
NEEF: We have done what we wanted to do during these four years. The quality of the cast has improved and it was never only about bringing in stars but about making everything we do more consistent. What we have focused on is bringing up the general level of the performance. I don’t want a season with two peak productions and five that are so-so.
NEEF: When I came here the Company had been without a General Director for a year and everybody was ready to embrace a new leadership. I have very rarely been compared to my predecessor because people knew that it was something that had come to an end. People were ready to embrace a new story and help create that story; and rather than feeling compared I felt carried and supported.
