In the footsteps of "Metropolitan" in New York

Paris Opera launches a diversity workshop

Opera will amend its conditions regarding the inclusion of artists in its ranks.

A.F.B.

The Paris Opera announced yesterday that it will amend its conditions relating to the inclusion of artists in its ranks, to encourage the enrollment of more non-white artists, and that it will appoint a "responsible for diversity", as the "Metropolitan Opera" recently did in New York.

The opera house revealed these steps on the occasion of presenting the contents of a report on diversity prepared by historian Bab Ndiaye and Secretary General of the independent "Rights Defender" Constance Riviere.

"We are very proud to be the first major cultural organization in France to launch such a (operation), and it is certain that others will follow our example," said Alexander Neff, director general of the Opera House.

Since taking office last September at the helm of the 300-year-old institution, Nef has paid great attention to the issue of diversity, in parallel to an unprecedented statement on ethnic diversity in the opera house, issued by black and mixed-race dancers and employees of the institution.

In response to someone who accused him of drawing inspiration from the United States, Neff confirmed to "Agence France Presse" that "it is not at all related to importing the concepts of diversity from a context" other than the French context.

The report included a series of recommendations, the most prominent of which was the need to review the conditions of entry to the prestigious dance school, which constitutes a reservoir that supports the opera ballet, so that the amendments allow “talent monitoring” throughout France, or even the participation of people from outside the house in the arbitration panel that makes decisions regarding the inclusion of musicians To the foundation.

Nef affirmed his commitment to achieving "a greater presence of artists from a variety of backgrounds, as of the 2021-2022 season", by "expanding the processes of attracting and selecting artists."

House manager: Surely others will follow our example.

Greater presence of artists from diverse backgrounds and expanded selection processes.

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