Theater News

George Steel Named New Artistic Director of New York City Opera

New York City
George Steel was hired Wednesday as general manager and artistic director of the New York City Opera, according to published reports. He had been executive director of Columbia University’s Miller Theatre before moving to the Dallas Opera, where he became general director last October. He will begin his new position with NYCO on February 1.

As previously reported, the NYCO had originally hired Paris Opera director Gerard
Mortier to lead the company, but he resigned unexpectedly last November. Mortier’s decision came about after the company told him they could not provide him with the $60 million budget for the season that he had been promised in his contract.

No firm plans for a 2009-2010 season have been announced. The company is currently producing a few concerts at various venues, including its upcoming concert stagings of Samuel Barber’s Antony & Cleopatra at Carnegie Hall, while its home base, the New York State Theater, is being renovated. Those renovations will continue as planned.