Overview

• Demis Volpi’s contract was terminated by mutual agreement with the Hamburgische Staatsoper’s supervisory board just before the end of the season.
• More than half of the company signed a letter to Kultursenator Carsten Brosda describing a ‘toxic work climate,’ and five principal dancers had already opted not to renew their contracts.
• Seventeen current and former dancers from the Deutsche Oper am Rhein reported an atmosphere of fear and insecurity under Volpi’s leadership.
• The Hamburg Cultural Authority and the opera’s works council launched an anonymous risk assessment to evaluate the troupe’s working conditions.
• Lloyd Riggins, Nicolas Hartmann and Gigi Hyatt are being considered to form the interim leadership team ahead of a permanent appointment.