Madrid - Spanish media Thursday hailed the appointment of Belgian Gerard Mortier as the artistic director of Madrid's Teatro Real opera, expecting him to raise its profile.
Mortier, 65, who currently heads the Paris National Opera, will occupy the post in Madrid from January 2010 for five years.
Described as an "authentic intellectual" and "agitator of consciences" by the daily El Pais, Mortier was expected to develop ambitious projects at the Teatro Real, which has tried to raise its international ranking to the top level for several years.