Estonian National Opera board member says it acted too slowly

Estonian National Opera board member and conductor Kadri Tali says the board has moved too slowly in responding to concerns from creative teams, which it has known about since early summer. She made the remarks on the Vikerhommik programme, ERR reported.

Tali said the board must take seriously the events at the opera, including director Ivari Ilja’s resignation and reports of lost trust in management. She said the board accepts responsibility and must examine how it allowed the situation to develop.

The board’s first step should be a rapid satisfaction survey requested by soloists and artistic staff, Tali said. The results should show the scale of the problem and guide any changes. She added that the board would support management in arranging the survey.

Tali said the board’s goal is to ensure people can perform in a safe and positive atmosphere, and that public discussion of the opera can focus on its productions, including Othello and The Cunning Little Vixen. She said tensions can accompany creative teams, but the board must recognise when they become unhealthy.

Although Tali said she had been deeply moved by the premiere of Othello, she stressed that good performances and artistic progress do not remove the need to address staff concerns.