Opava Municipality calls “crisis managers” to the Silesian Theatre. Petr Kazík will be the new director

Posted On: September 29, 2023

Manager Petr Kazík had to assume the position of director of the Silesian Theater in Opava on October 1 after the dismissal of conductor Aleš Kománek, whose dismissal in this position was accompanied by great controversy in the summer.

He was the conductor in the last days of June Ales Kománek was suddenly dismissed from his directorship by the Opava City Government Silesian Theater in Opava. He held the position of director for a year and a half. At that time, the city council’s decision was accompanied by the disapproval of some theater employees and the signing of a petition. Critical voices mainly pointed to the unclear reasons and unexpected dismissal of Kománk, but also to the fact that the planned world premiere of the rediscovered opera would not be possible because of this. Dalinda composer Gaetano Donizetti, which is being prepared for this fall at Opava under Kománk’s leadership. Opponents of the decision also voiced concerns that it would disrupt the institution’s artistic continuity.

Aleš Kománek (©Lukáš Wodecki)

The city responded as time went on press statement, which cited economic problems as the main reason for Kománk’s resignation. According to council members “the city pulled the emergency brake at the twelfth minute”because it will be lost in the budget “almost 10 million CZK for theaters at the end of the year to cover costs.” Komanek defended himself against this statement social network. In an interview for Opera Plus in late July, he accused the city government of cronyism, which he said, “he wanted his friends to occupy certain positions in the theater” and his opposition to these practices, he said, was the main reason for his dismissal. He also stated that city officials “will face criminal charges”.

The theater’s problems are solvable, the new director believes. But first he had to get to know the institution

However, the Opava board members fulfilled their statement in mid-July “The director must not only be an artist, but most importantly a manager and economist. Or preferably an economist with an artistic sensibility.” Apparently, the selection committee found such a person among six applicants Petr Kazíkfrom whom will take over the directorship October 1. The newspaper reported the day before yesterday’s news on its website Ostrava.

“I admit, I thought about whether to take part in the selection process in a relatively short period of time, not even a month. “During that time I had to get a lot of information, because I didn’t know much about the Opava theater,” acknowledged director-designate Kazík. However, he is confident that the theater’s internal problems can be resolved. “I got to know the level of destabilization personally. What happens outside the organization often looks worse than what actually happens inside. Throughout my career, I have been invited to face these situations in various organizations and companies together with my team, and I I know the best way is when we have the opportunity to actually work in that organization for a long period of time,” said Kazík Ostravanu.

Kazík studied economics and during his professional life carried out various managerial functions in the field of business and marketing, but he also devoted himself to teaching activities. Currently being worked on Newton University and is an assistant professor at Charles University in Prague, where he teaches andragogy and educational management. He was elected president in 2020 Czech Managerial Alliance. He has a connection with music culture and production especially through choral singing Permonik Karviná.