Matej Drlička

Matej Drlička, dismissed general director of the Slovak National Theatre, has led the largest cultural institution in Slovakia from January 2021 to November 2022 and again since May 2023 to August 2024. Originally trained at the Academy of Performing Arts, he performed as as a clarinettist in prestigious European orchestras and venues such as the Bavarian State Opera, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande or the Paris Opera and was a permanent member of the Orchestre de Cannes. Due to an accident, he had to quit his career as a concert artist in 2005 and started to work in music management. Since then, he has worked as a creative industry manager, dramaturg, producer and organiser of major cultural and social events. He founded Viva Musica!, Slovakia’s largest summer festival for classical music in 2005 and served as project manager for the Abu Dhabi Classics Festival in 2008. Two years later, he made the most of his experience by founding his own company, Viva Musica! agency, which realises music productions and projects in Slovakia and abroad. In 2019, he organised Slovakia’s largest festival for technology IXPO.