Gerard Alfons August, Baron Mortier (born 25 November 1943, Ghent) is a Belgian opera director and administrator of Flemish origin.
Mortier has served as general director of La Monnaie (Brussels) (1981–1991) and of the Salzburg Festival (1990–2001). He was a founding director of the Ruhr Triennale arts festival in Germany, and then he became general director of the Opéra National de Paris in 2004.[1] He relinquished this post in 2009.
In February 2007, the New York City Opera (NYCO) named him their next general director, effective as of the 2009/2010 season.[2] Mortier assisted with company operations from Paris during the interim period after his appointment was announced. Problems with fund-raising and a smaller-than-expected budget began to develop during the interim period after Mortier's appointment. At one point, there was controversy during this time over speculation that Mortier was campaigning for a position as co-artistic director of the Bayreuth Festival. In November 2008, by mutual agreement, Mortier and the NYCO agreed to terminate their contract, and that he would not become NYCO's general director.[3]
Late in November 2008, the Teatro Real of Madrid announced the appointment of Mortier as its next general director, effective September 2010.[4]