Dr. Bogdan Roščić designated Director of the Vienna State Opera starting in 2020

Wednesday, 21 December 2016, the Austrian Arts and Culture Minister Thomas Drozda designated Bogdan Roščić as new director of the Vienna State Opera for the period 2020 till 2025: "As a top manager in the classical music field, he has a proven track record of international competence and managerial experience. This new era will bring together a combination of artistic aspirations, passion and enthusiasm." said Minister Drozda.
"This appointment is for me personally the most important decision of my professional life", Roščić said, expressing his gratitude – he will embrace the responsibility with love and passion: "2022 will mark the 125th anniversary of Gustav Mahler’s inauguration as opera house director. The Vienna State Opera will be celebrating its most important director by taking inspiration from the principles he espoused here: absolute artistic and creative determination, the highest level of ambition in every respect, and commitment to the highest quality standards in all aspects of the opera house."

Born in Belgrade in 1964, Bogdan Roščić studied philosophy and musicology before he began his career working for Austrian daily newspapers. He moved to the Austrian radio station Ö3 in 1993 and was appointed Managing Director of Universal Music Austria in 2002. His other appointments include Artistic Director of Universal label Deutsche Grammophon (2003), Managing Director of Universal company Decca Music Group (2006) and President of Sony Masterworks (2009).