Manuel Legris possible contract extension

[iolanthe]

There is an article in Milano Pavia News:

https://www.milanopavia.news/news-milano/teatro-alla-scala-il-corpo-di-ballo-in-stato-di-agitazione-contro-la-riconferma-del-suo-direttore/
 

It says that Fortunato Ortombina, new superintendant of La Scala, wants to extend Manuel Legris’ contract for 2026 (current one is up in November 2025).

 

Possible new AD is Roberto Bolle who needs time to sort out his schedule before accepting the position. The union is against this prossible appointment as dancers prefer Legris to stay (despite his own statement that he has no intention to prolong his contract).

[TurningPointe]

@iolanthe Thank you for this information about Manuel Legris’ possible contract extension.  Such a sad situation. The following is my viewpoint:  Manuel Legris has done wonders for la Scala’s ballet company.  I have not previously seen them dancing as strongly as do now.  They have wonderful guest artists (earlier this year they had Roberto Bolle as Armand in ‘Dame of the Camellias’ with the gorgeous Nicoletta Mani; Myriam Ould Braham guested as ‘Manon’ with Claudio Coviello; Hugo Marchand will be next as ‘Herr Drosselmeyer/Prince’ in Nureyev’s ‘The Nutcracker’ partnering the beautiful Alice Mariani…the company has now international standard home-grown principals and soloists, great visiting teachers and coaches, good internal coaches, a great Artistic Director in Manuel Legris…..La Scala is profitable….Why changing?  

 

Both Dominique Meyer and Manuel Legris expressed their desire for continuity in the past.   Is it because of the Italian Prime Minister’s decree that only Italian-born directors can be appointed at landmark institutions for more than one term? Hence the replacement of Dominique Meyer (General Director/Superintendent) with Fortunato Ortombina.  I hear that Meyer has now been appointed executive director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne from 15th July 2025.  I am not sure what will happen with Legris, however for now he continues with sold out houses - Nureyev’s Nutracker has been sold out for weeks - and he will be staging his version of ‘Sylvia’ with the Paris Opera Ballet next year (May-June 2025).  I can only glean from previous statements that he would like to continue in his post. Having said that, if the extension is limited to accommodate Mr Bolle’s 2025 agenda…there may not be a deal. Time will tell….Such a pity for alla Scala’s ballet that this is happening…

 

Edited December 3, 2024 by TurningPointe