Hungarian State Opera Director Rejects Union's Accusations

The Hungarian State Opera, under the leadership of General Director Szilveszter Ókovács, has issued a strong rebuttal to recent accusations leveled by the Union of Hungarian Musicians and Dancers. In a statement provided to our publication, Ókovács categorically denies the claims, particularly those concerning the institution's financial management, labeling them as factually erroneous and baseless.

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The claims made in the open letter contain numerous factual errors and unfounded assertions.

Ókovács contends that the union's criticisms focus on outdated operational models that are no longer viable in the 21st century, failing to align with responsible management practices or international standards in opera and ballet. He questions the union leadership's and its vocal former members' actual understanding of the opera house's current operational realities.

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The authors of the letter miss operational models that have become unsustainable and are out of sync with responsible institutional management and international practice in 21st-century opera and ballet.

Furthermore, the General Director interprets the open letter as a politically motivated maneuver, exploiting the post-election climate. He attributes the union's stance to personal animosity towards him and his political convictions, coupled with an unwillingness to confront the evolving operational conditions that have reshaped the arts sector over the past decade. The Opera stands ready to cooperate with any investigations initiated by the relevant authorities.

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I question whether the union's assembly or its vocal former members have sufficient insight into the factual assessment of the institution's operations.