Emmanuel Macron reappoints Laurent Le Bon to the Center Pompidou and Alexander Neef to the Paris Opera

At the Paris Opera, the news had been spread for a long time. In February 2024, Rachida Dati welcomed in a press release the renewal by Emmanuel Macron of Alexander Neef at the head of the institution for a second term. A little hastily perhaps. The question was not raised in the Council of Ministers and no decree has since come to confirm Emmanuel Macron’s decision. On Wednesday, the Council of Ministers came to repair this oversight. “On the proposal of the Minister of Culture, the President of the Republic has decided to reappoint Mr. Alexander Neef in his position as general director of the Paris National Opera for a second term running until 2032,” welcomes Catherine Pgard in a press release which repeats almost word for word – except for her signature – that released by Rachida Dati two and a half years ago. The work of the German director, who took office in 2020, is praised. In particular its “rigorous cost management”the “dynamic development of own resources” and its reforms “in terms of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities”.

Also on the agenda for the Council of Ministers on July 22 is the reappointment of Laurent Le Bon as head of the Center Pompidou for a second term which runs until 2031.

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Another point in common between the two men: they are both facing important work in their institutions. After leading the move of the different entities that make up the Center Pompidou, Laurent Le Bon will close the last doors of the Parisian institution on September 22 for a project lasting at least five years. Amount of the complete renovation: 469 million euros, including 280 million provided by the State (including asbestos removal, securing the public and works, thermal renovation, etc.), the rest covering cultural programming by 2030 and being the responsibility of the institution. “We found 100 million euros,” welcomed Laurent Le Bon last month.

Lead in Garnier

Alexander Neef, for his part, chose to close each of his rooms successively for a renovation of the stage equipment. Garnier first at the end of next season, then Bastille from 2030. A calendar which should make it possible to maintain continuous activity during the work, while organizing a program “outside the walls”. However, the agenda has exploded since preliminary studies confirmed what many feared: the renovation of the Opéra Garnier could extend over five years instead of the two planned due to the presence of lead in much greater quantities than imagined. The heaviest work at Bastille could then be postponed accordingly. The cost of these tranches is set at 450.8 million euros, a quarter of which is borne by the state, the rest to be covered by own reserves and patronage. The new schedule and any additional costs will be known at the start of the school year.