Upper Austria extends contracts for theatre leaders

Upper Austria has extended the contracts of Landestheater Linz artistic director Hermann Schneider and theatre and orchestra company managing director Thomas Königstorfer, ORF reported. Governor Thomas Stelzer said the decision was intended to provide planning certainty and continuity in the coming years.

Schneider’s contract now runs until 31 August 2031, while Königstorfer’s has been extended until January 2034. Both contracts were originally due to expire in 2029.

Stelzer, who is also the state’s culture minister, said the extensions would allow programmes to be developed over the long term and leadership teams and guest artists to be secured at an early stage.

Schneider has led the Linz state theatre since the 2016-17 season and is responsible for its artistic direction. He said the opportunities offered by musical theatre and the Schauspielhaus, which is currently being renovated, had persuaded him to extend his contract until retirement.

Christoph Koncz has already been appointed to lead the musical side from the 2027-28 season. He will become chief conductor of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz and music director of the Linz state theatre. Together with Schneider and Königstorfer, he is expected to shape the future development of the institutions.

Königstorfer has been commercial managing director of the Upper Austrian Theatre and Orchestra Company since January 2019. He highlighted the development of the state theatre in recent years, saying it had become Austria’s second-strongest repertory theatre by ticket revenue and ranked among the top 10 in the German-speaking world by visitor numbers.

Stelzer described the appointments as combining continuity with new impetus. Schneider and Königstorfer represented experience and stability, he said, while Koncz would bring a new artistic approach. This would provide a foundation for further developing the state theatre and the Bruckner Orchestra and strengthening their position beyond Upper Austria.