Elisabeth Sobotka

Born in Vienna, Elisabeth Sobotka studied music and theater studies as well as journalism at the University of her home town, completing her studies with a thesis on the composer and conductor Franco Faccio. At the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien, she subsequently studied cultural management and already during her studies worked in the concert department and in the artistic administration of the Salzburg Festival.
For the 1990–91 season, she worked in Vienna at the administrative office of Jeunesse – Musikalische Jugend Österreichs, before becoming head of artistic production at the Leipzig Opera in 1992. From 1994 to 2002, she was head of the artistic administration and managing director of the Vienna State Opera. From 2002 to 2007, she served as opera director at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin. In September 2009, she became intendant at the Graz Opera, and from 2015 to 2024 she served as intendant of the Bregenz Festival.
Elisabeth Sobotka is a member of the steering committee of the Executive Master in Arts Administration (EMAA) at Universität Zürich and the board of directors at the Vienna Volksoper. Until February 2023, she was also vice chair of the Board of Trustees at Universität Mozarteum Salzburg.
With the 2024/25 season, Elisabeth Sobotka became intendant of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin.