Around the Music Festival

Austrian conductor Friedemann Layer died at the age of 78 in Potsdam near Berlin on the 3rd. Layer was born in Vienna. Studied how to conduct with Hans Swarowsky at the Vienna. Then he gained experience as an assistant to Herbert von Karajan at the Ulm Opera and Salzburg Festival.

Later, in 1974, he became the conductor of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and from 1987 to 1990 served as General Music Director (GMD) of the Mannheim State Opera. From 1994, he moved to the French National Opera of Montpellier. At the same time, he was also the music director of the Montpellier Festival. From 2007, he returned to Mannheim, where he served again as General Music Director until 2009.

Photo：Mannheimer Nationaltheaters　/　RHEINPFALZ　/　kunz