San Francisco Frontiers - Berlin opera passes baton from Barenboim to Thielemann

Argentina-born Barenboim, 80, had announced in January that he was stepping down at the fabled institution, one of Europe's most prestigious classical music venues, after he was diagnosed with a "serious neurological condition".

Berlin's top culture official, Joe Chialo, said Thielemann, who has frequently stepped in to conduct the opera's house orchestra, the Staatskapelle, would succeed Barenboim from September 2024.

Chialo said the choice of Thielemann was the "wish of the orchestra", calling him the "perfect successor" to Barenboim and representing "the highest musical excellence".

The venue on the Unter den Linden boulevard is one of three opera houses in the German capital.

Thielemann, a Berlin native and one of the classical musical world's most in-demand stars, is known for his passion for the music of Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss and, in particular, Richard Wagner.

His production last year of Wagner's "Ring" cycle at the Staatsoper "was unanimously described as phenomenal", the daily Berliner Zeitung said. His outings at the legendary Bayreuth Festival of Wagner operas have also been rapturously received.

Thielemann, 64, is still under contract as chief conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden until next year and is seen as having elevated it to one of the top orchestras in the German-speaking world.

A protege of the legendary Herbert von Karajan, Thielemann previously served as general music director of Berlin's Deutsche Oper but resigned in 2004 over a funding dispute with the city.

E.Walker--SFF