Rebuilding After Loss
The Festival d'Aix-en-Provence has announced its new leadership team, completing a reorganization that began following the death of artistic director Pierre Audi ten months ago.
The New Team
Ted Huffman — General Director Huffman's appointment was initially announced in October 2025. He now leads the festival's overall direction.
Isla Mundell Perkins — Director of Artistic Administration Perkins comes from a background in casting (Hamburg) and most recently served as head of artistic administration at Opera North in Leeds for 13 months.
Julien Benhamou — Casting Consultant Benhamou continues in an expanded role alongside existing positions as director of productions at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and casting consultant for the Metropolitan Opera.
What This Means
Aix is one of the world's premier summer opera festivals, and its artistic direction has significant ripple effects across the industry — from commissioning new works to engaging emerging directors and designers. For singers and instrumentalists, Aix engagements are career-defining. The new team's programming choices over the next two to three seasons will signal where the festival is headed artistically.
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