Merilin Piipuu elected chair of Estonia National Opera council

Merilin Piipuu has been elected chair of the Estonia National Opera council, with Mart Mikk named deputy chair, ERR reported on Thursday.

At its meeting, the council also reviewed a draft budget for 2027 and heard an update on the theatre’s marketing and communications. It discussed the terms of reference for an audit of the management model and plans for an employee satisfaction survey.

Piipuu served on the council as the Ministry of Culture’s representative and as the ministry’s chancellor. Before becoming chancellor, she was the ministry’s undersecretary for cultural heritage. She previously led Vabamu, a museum, helped establish the Centre for Anthropology and worked with several civic organisations. She studied ethnology and applied anthropology at the University of Tartu, and sociology and political science at the University of Essex in England.

Piipuu said she wants to address the national opera’s immediate problems and support its long-term development. She said the council had decided to conduct a satisfaction survey across the theatre to understand staff concerns and respond where necessary.

“Our goal is to restore working peace and trust, ensure clear and effective management, and create an environment where people can work well and do their best,” Piipuu said.

On October 8, Estonia National Opera soloists wrote to the council, saying the current management approach did not inspire their trust or give them confidence in the organisation’s future. After an extraordinary council meeting that day, chair Ivari Ilja resigned, saying he no longer considered it possible to serve on the council in its current composition.

On Thursday, the opera’s deputy heads also wrote to the council, expressing concern about nearly four months of internal conflicts and continuing negative media attention. They urged the council to focus more on the interests of the whole organisation and address the opera’s sustainable funding.