Pereira: Salzburg to Milan

Alexander Pereira, Intendant (artistic director) of the Salzburg Festival, has announced that he will be leaving effective September 2014 to direct at La Scala in Milan, after a mere three seasons at the venerable institution. Both Pereira and festival officials stressed that the decision to release him from his contract was mutual and the parting amicable.

He will be replaced for the 2015/16 seasons by festival president Helga Rabl-Stadler and director of drama Sven-Eric Bechtolf, who shall jointly take on an intendant’s duties in addition to their current responsibilities; the search for a full-fledged replacement for 2017 and beyond is currently ongoing.

During his brief tenure, Pereira set new attendance records but routinely clashed with management over the festival’s budget, most notably with Salzburg’s mayor Heinz Schaden.