**

At Brussels' opera, La Monnaie, he was selected to succeed Bernard Foccroulle (who is now heading the Aix-en-Provence Festival) in June of 2005 and, since taking charge in 2007, has earned a reputation for innovative stagings and risk-taking repertory. Under his leadership La Monnaie was honored this year with the title "Opera House of the Year" by the German magazine Opernwelt.

Opera Europa, an organization of opera companies and festivals in Europe, has 118 members in 36 countries and shares experiences between the members principally at the twice-yearly meetings which include conferences and seminars on topics vital to the members. It also coordinates the successful "open house" days where most of the opera houses in Europe hold special free public performances and often allow the public intimate glimpses of back-stage activity.

Peter de Caluwe takes over from Joan Matabosch, Artistic Director of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain. The 15-member Board of Directors of Opera Europa includes vice presidents Kasper Holten, head of opera at London's Royal Opera of Covent Garden and Tom Remlov, general director of the Norske Opera in Oslo.

Peter de Caluwe says "It is an honor for me to preside over an organization in which I have been actively involved since its inception almost 10 years ago. Our organization reflects the spirit of solidarity and collaboration at a time when it is absolutely necessary. He continued by noting that "It is a real challenge to try to expand this organization and attract new members to further develop the power to influence our industry and share the importance of today's opera.

Opera Europa conferences are scheduled next year at the Opera National de Lyon (from 16-18 March) and will be hosted by four Moscow companies, including the Bolshoi and the Stanislavsky Music Theater, from the 25th to the 28th of October.