Rémy Fichette is the new ballet director of Leipzig Opera

Remy Fichet He will be the new director of Leipzig Ballet from the 2024/25 season. As Leipzig Opera announced on Monday, the Frenchman will take over artistic direction, replacing former ballet director and chief choreographer Mario Schröder after 14 years.

“We are making a conscious change towards the artistic organizational direction at Leipzig Ballet and I really appreciate that our favorite candidate Rémy Vichet has chosen our company,” said Tobias Wolff, Artistic Director of Leipzig Opera.

Born in Amiens, France, Remy Fichet is no stranger to Leipzig. After studying in Paris and spending two years as a dancer with the National Opera there, he came to Leipzig Opera in 2000 and danced in the company until 2008, most recently as a soloist. After his active period as a dancer, he worked as project dispatcher and coordinator and has been artistic production director at Leipzig since 2012. In this role he worked closely with former director Mario Schröder.

MDR KULTUR Ballet critic Wolfgang Schilling was surprised by the decision to dismiss Mario Schröder from the position. Schröder developed his “company, always working at the highest level of dance, in a direction towards an innovative and complete work of art on stage.” According to the critic, he created a unique selling point for Leipzig Opera. In a conversation with him, Schroeder said that he was personally and personally very disappointed in the director’s decision to appoint a new director.

When Rémy Fichette takes office, the personal union of ballet director and chief choreographer, previously held by Mario Schröder, will be abolished. Because Fiché would only manage the Leipzig Ballet and hire the guest choreographers. According to Leipzig Opera, collaborations with innovative choreographers from the international dance scene are planned for the coming seasons.

However, concrete plans will not be presented until the annual press conference on 8 March 2024. In addition to the program for the new season, the new director of the Leipzig Ballet will also be presented.

Source: MDR KULTUR, Leipzig Opera press release
Editorial treatment: periodical