The Battle for Quality. The Strange Career of Gerard Mortier

Gerard Mortier is currently regarded as an important authority in the international opera world. He has directed both the prestigious Salzburg Festival and the Paris Opera. That seems rather unreal. The principal reason for this is that Gerard Mortier comes from a country that had no great reputation for opera. Yet everyone has nothing but praise for Mortier as an authority, a source of inspiration and a moderniser; people describe him as enthusiastic, visionary, tireless, original and gifted. But sometimes his dreams have fallen foul of harsh reality.