One
of Australia’s foremost contemporary opera and music-theatre
directors, Douglas Horton, is stepping down as Artistic Director of
the company he established back in 1988 - the pioneering and
internationally regarded ChamberMade Opera - to pursue new projects
in film and theatre.
Announcing
his decision, Douglas Horton said:
‘This
is an exciting new chapter, both for me and for ChamberMade. In 21
prolific years ChamberMade has spearheaded fundamental developments
both in the art form and the opera/music-theatre industry. We have
brought the work of leading Australian artists to audiences across
Australia and across four continents. Now is the time for both myself
and the company to engage fresh new energies and new visions.
Australia is truly blessed in the range and depth of its talent, and
I very much look forward to seeing the baton passed to the next
brilliant generation.”
Karen
Hadfield, the Chair of ChamberMade, said:
“I
have admired the work of Douglas Horton and ChamberMade since it
began and it is with great sadness that I see him leave the company
he established; I wish him all the very best in his new direction and
am happy he will be directing a number of projects for CMO and
overseeing the smooth transition to this new phase in the life of the
company. We respect his decision and will miss him.”
Douglas
Horton will continue on upcoming ChamberMade productions including
two international collaborations, the group-devised ‘Beneath’ and
Michael Smetanin’s ‘Mayakovsky’, and a new opera by Julian Yu
and Glenn Perry, after Tim Winton’s ‘That Eye the Sky’. The
Board will commence recruitment for Mr Horton's replacement
immediately.