Cologne opera director Mulders: Extension by 2032 on the agenda

<p> <strong> Cologne opera director Mulders: Extension by 2032 on the agenda </strong> </p>

Cologne: Hein Mulders should remain opera director for another five years

Cologne's opera director Hein Mulder could receive an extension by August 31, 2032 before the end of his current contract. This announcement is on the agenda of the upcoming main committee of the city council, in which the proposal is brought to approval by the city administration. Both the administration and Mulders themselves want an early continuation of their cooperation.

The meaning of the fresh air in the opera

Hein Mulders, born in 1962, has led the Aalto Theater and the Philharmonic in Essen in the past. When he imagined in Cologne, he emphasized the opportunity to deal more intensively with the opera as an art form. His studies included art history, archeology, Italian and musicology in Paris and Amsterdam, which gives him a wide view of the cultural landscape.

The return to Offenbachplatz

The Cologne Opera is one of the most traditional opera houses in Germany. However, the opera has been playing in the State House in Deutz since the 2015/16 season, since the renovation of the building on Offenbachplatz has been significantly delayed and the costs are skyrocketed. At the moment it is expected that the construction of the opera, the Schauspielhaus and other facilities could be completed by the end of 2025, whereby additional tests for technical suitability are still required.

Although the city is optimistic about a return time in the season 2026/2027, the return is possible that the return will be delayed, which could also heat up the public discussion about Cologne opera. The development remains to be seen, while Mulder looks back on consistently positive reactions of his time in Cologne.