Around the Music Festival

The Staatskapelle Dresden (Saxon State Opera Orchestra) appointed Christian Thielemann, who will retire as chief conductor after the 2023/2024 season, as honorary conductor. The award ceremony was held after the performance of the first day of the farewell concert on July 7.



Thielemann was appointed Chief Conductor in the 2012/2013 season and supported the Salzburg Easter Festival for ten years starting in 2013 with orchestra. 2024/2025 season, he will become General Music Director of the Berlin State Opera. The orchestra will replace him with Daniele Gatti.

Thielemann is the third person to be presented with the title of Honorary Conductor by the orchestra. The first ever honorary conductor title was awarded to Colin Davis in 1990 and to Herbert Blomstedt, who served as chief conductor from 1975 to 1985, in 2016.Thielemann conducted Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at the farewell concerts on July 7, 8 and 9.

PHOTO：Staatskapelle Dresden　/　Matthias Creutziger