Karl M. Sibelius

Born in Bregenz, Sibelius grew up in Carinthia, attended the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium (musical branch) there and then studied musical entertainment theatre and singing in Vienna at the Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität. He holds a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies from the European Peace University, a degree in cultural manager from the University of Vienna, an Executive Master of Art Administration from the University of Zurich and a Doctor of Philosophy (title of doctoral thesis: Orchestra Projects – Instruments of Social Change).{{cite web|url=http://www.ufg.ac.at/AbsolventInnen-und-Studierende.11091.0.html|title=Kunstuniversität Linz: AbsolventInnen und Studierende|work=www.ufg.ac.at|access-date=23 July 2021}} of the University of Art and Design Linz.[https://www.landestheater-linz.at/public/Person%20Details?pid=622 Karl M. Sibelius, in Webpräsenz des Landestheaters Linz] abgefragt am 18. April 2015

From 1992 until 2012, he was engaged at the Landestheater Linz. He appeared in classical acting roles (Hamlet, Tellheim in Minna von Barnhelm), in Johann Nestroy's {{Ill|Höllenangst|de}} as "Wendelin", but also in musicals and operettas (among others as "Frankn'Furter" in The Rocky Horror Show) and in operas.{{cite web|url=https://www.landestheater-linz.at/public/Person%20Details?pid=622|website=landestheater-linz.at|title=Landestheater Linz Person Details|access-date=23 July 2021}} In addition, he gave song recitals ("Ich find Schlager toll", "Schiff der Träume", "Struwwelpeter"). He created the art figure Rose. His productions include the Linz productions Männer, La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein, La Cage aux Folles. Further, his direction and translation of Stephen Sondheim's musical thriller Sweeney Todd was seen at the Landestheater. In The Good Person of Szechwan he was on stage as Shen Te/Shui Ta in Ong Keng Sen's production. He staged the Austrian premiere of Song and Dance at Posthof Linz, brought Matchgirl Opera to premiere and was director of the children's opera {{Ill|Das Traumfresserchen|de}}. For {{Ill|Linz 2009 – European Capital of Culture|de}}, Sibelius hosted the opening ceremonies.

In between, he repeatedly made guest appearances on stages in Vienna ({{Ill|Serapionstheater|de}}, Schauspielhaus Wien, Theater in der Josefstadt) and Germany (Münchner Volkstheater, Staatstheater Kassel, Bonn, Augsburg, Stadttheater Konstanz). In July 2007, Sibelius made his debut as an opera director in Klosterneuburg with Beethoven's Fidelio.[http://m.diepresse.com/home/kultur/klassik/316243/index.do Gerhard Kramer: "Fidelio": Static Hymn to Hubby Love]. In Die Presse v. 10 July 2007 In Linz, he appeared in the 2007/08 season as Adam Schaf in Georg Kreisler's biographical song recital and as head waiter "Leopold" in the operetta Im weißen Rößl, in June and July 2008 at the Bad Leonfeldner Sommerfestspiele in musical Cabaret as a conferencier under the artistic direction of Thomas Kerbl.

In 2012, Sibelius moved to the Theater an der Rott in Eggenfelden as artistic director and created his first season in 2012/2013. His artistic and economic restructuring measures (change management) are closely followed beyond the region. At the end of the 2014/2015 season, he ended prematurely his work at the Theater an der Rott.{{cite web|url=http://www.pnp.de/region_und_lokal/landkreis_rottal_inn/eggenfelden/1229452_Sibelius-soll-Intendant-des-Trierer-Theaters-werden.html|title=Wechsel nach Trier: Karl Sibelius verlässt das Theater an der Rott|author=Raimund Meisenberger|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005215321/http://www.pnp.de/region_und_lokal/landkreis_rottal_inn/eggenfelden/1229452_Sibelius-soll-Intendant-des-Trierer-Theaters-werden.html|url-status=dead}}[http://www.pnp.de/mobile/?cid=1762218 NN: Magere Sibelius-Bilanz: Hoffen auf Neustart am Theater der Rott] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225144521/http://www.pnp.de/mobile/?cid=1762218 |date=2015-12-25 }}. Passauer Neue Presse v. 31 Juli 2015.

Sibelius became general director of Theater Trier in August 2015. In 2016, criticism of Sibelius' management of the theatre arose. His summary dismissal of the theatre director Ulf Frötzschner was reversed by the city after protests by the acting ensemble and the directors and a hearing before the Stage Arbitration Court.{{cite web|url=http://www.trier-reporter.de/theater-trier-froetzschners-sieg/|website=trier-reporter.de|title=www.trier-reporter.de/theater-trier-froetzschners-sieg/|access-date=23 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trier-reporter.de/theater-trier-regisseure-fuer-froetzschner/|website=trier-reporter.de|title=www.trier-reporter.de/theater-trier-regisseure-fuer-froetzschner/|access-date=23 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trier-reporter.de/theater-trier-abmahnungen-kuendigungen-abfindungen/|title=Theater Trier – Abmahnungen, Kündigungen, Abfindungen {{!}} Trier Reporter|work=www.trier-reporter.de|access-date=23 July 2021}}

In the course of 2016, it became known that the theatre's budget had been considerably overdrawn.{{cite book|title=Dispute over Trier Theatre escalates: Lord Mayor wants to get rid of Intendant {{!}} Trier {{!}} News|work=swr.online|url=http://www.swr.de/landesschau-aktuell/rp/trier/streit-um-theater-trier-eskaliert-cdu-fordert-ruecktritt-des-kulturdezernenten/-/id=1672/did=18370510/nid=1672/18yhud0/index.html|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109200016/http://www.swr.de/landesschau-aktuell/rp/trier/streit-um-theater-trier-eskaliert-cdu-fordert-ruecktritt-des-kulturdezernenten/-/id=1672/did=18370510/nid=1672/18yhud0/index.html|url-status=dead}} In a meeting on 17 November 2016, the Trier city council decided to terminate the contract with Sibelius at the end of the month. The reasons given by Mayor {{Ill|Wolfram Leibe|de}} included "dramatic mismanagement" and a deficit of over 3 million euros since Karl M. Sibelius took office.{{cite book|title=Trierer Stadtrat entscheidet: Intendant Sibelius muss Ende November gehen {{!}} Trier {{!}} Nachrichten|work=swr.online|url=http://www.swr.de/landesschau-aktuell/rp/trier/trierer-stadtrat-entscheidet-intendant-sibelius-muss-ende-november-gehen/-/id=1672/did=18500138/nid=1672/1c55qbw/index.html|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=9 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109203022/http://www.swr.de/landesschau-aktuell/rp/trier/trierer-stadtrat-entscheidet-intendant-sibelius-muss-ende-november-gehen/-/id=1672/did=18500138/nid=1672/1c55qbw/index.html|url-status=dead}}

Sibelius was active in the city cultural advisory board Linz and committed himself to the {{Ill|Aids-Hilfe|de}} Upper Austria. In the daily Österreich his column "Alltag Kultur" appeared every Monday for two years. At the Anton Bruckner Private University, Sibelius was a lecturer at the opera school. From 2010 to 2013, he was a lecturer at the Institute for Singing at the University Mozarteum Salzburg.

Sibelius has been working as a professor (PH2) at the {{Ill|Pädagogische Hochschule Oberösterreich|de}} in Linz since October 2019.[https://www.ph-online.ac.at/ph-ooe/visitenkarte.show_vcard?pPersonenId=18C49C4B268558F1&pPersonenGruppe=3 Homepage der Pädagogischen Hochschule Oberösterreich].

• From 2005 to 2007 Sibelius was nominated for the Gay And Lesbian Award (G.A.L.A.) der HOSI Linz.
• 2007 After the benefit gala "Let's POP!!!" in 2007 for the benefit of HOSI Linz, Sibelius was awarded the Cross of Honour "Fidei et Merito" ("Of Loyalty and Merit") together with the President of the National Council Barbara Prammer.
• 2007 Ehrenzeichen der HOSI Linz
• 2012 {{Ill|Kulturmedaille des Landes Oberösterreich|de}}.[http://www.wochenblatt.de/nachrichten/rottal/regionales/Sibelius-Kulturmedaille-Oberoesterreich;art1171,141476Oberösterreichische Kulturmedaille für Karl M. Sibelius, in Webpräsenz des Wochenblattes]{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• 2013 Preis der Jury bei den Bayerischen Theatertagen in Nürnberg as "bemerkenswerter" Theatermacher
• 2013 Überraschungssieger für innovative Theaterarbeit abseits der Zentren (Deutsche Bühne)
• 2014 Nominierung seines Bürgerprojekts WEIL I DI MAG für den {{Ill|BKM-Preis Kulturelle Bildung|de}} durch den Deutschen Bühnenverein
• 2019 Anerkennungspreis "Stadt der Vielfalt" für den von Sibelius mitkonzipierten Hochschullehrgang "Friedenspädagogik und Menschenrechtsbildung" an Pädagogischen Hochschule Oberösterreich

{{Reflist}}

• Sabine Jackl: Freigeist mit Familiensinn. In Dahoam – Das Magazin für Wirtschaft und Lebenskultur in Niederbayern. October 2012, pp. 40f.

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.ph-online.ac.at/ph-ooe/visitenkarte.show_vcard?pPersonenId=18C49C4B268558F1&pPersonenGruppe=3 Karl Sibelius on the Homepage of the Pädagogischen Hochschule Oberösterreich]
• Barbara Eidenberger: [http://www.nachrichten.at/oberoesterreich/serien/landsleute/art10236,45993 Ein Leben für das Theater], OÖN, 25 September 2006

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Category:Austrian male film actors

Category:Austrian male stage actors

Category:Austrian male musical theatre actors

Category:Austrian theatre directors

Category:Austrian LGBTQ rights activists

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Bregenz

Category:Academic staff of Anton Bruckner Private University

Category:Male actors from Carinthia