MUSIC

Belgian opera director Gerard Mortier was named artistic director Monday of the Salzburg Festival, following the death last month of conductor Herbert von Karajan who was the guiding force of the festival for many years. Mortier, 46, head of Belgium’s national opera La Monnaie, is to take over in October 1991, along with board member Hans Landesmann, the festival’s new finance director. The appointments are part of proposed reforms to regenerate the annual music and opera event which has been criticized by some for lacking innovation under Karajan’s direction. The conductor resigned from the board last year.