The Vienna State Opera, one of the world's most prestigious and best known arts organizations, has signed French arts administrator Dominique Meyer as its new director.

Meyer, currently head of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, will start his new job at the famed Staatsoper at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, Austrian Culture Minister Claudia Schmied announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The prominent and influential post includes overseeing three opera houses, two concert halls and other venues as well as negotiating with performers, dealing with the orchestra and taking care of the budget.

Meyer, who studied business, has helmed both the Paris Opera and an opera house in Lausanne, Switzerland, and worked for the French Culture Ministry.

After serving in the post since 1992, current director Ioan Holender announced in February that he would not seek to extend his contract.

Opera-loving chancellor favoured friend

Austrian chancellor and opera lover Alfred Gusenbauer caused some controversy during the director's search by openly supporting his friend, U.S. tenor Neil Shicoff, for the job.

In a statement, Gusenbauer said that Shicoff "surely would have been an excellent opera director," but praised Meyer as highly qualified and "an interesting choice."

Conductor Franz Welser-Moest was also announced as the opera's new general music director.