Around the Music Festival

The Berlin State Opera announced that music director Daniel Barenboim has been forced to give up conducting the new production of “Ring of the Nibelung” due to ill health.

The new production of “Ring” will be directed by Dmitry Dmitri Tcherniakov and will begin performances on October 2. According to the announcement, Christian Thielemann will conduct the first and third cycles (through performances), and Thomas Guggeis will conduct the second.

Barenboim took a break from performing this past February due to spinal surgery; he returned briefly on March 6, but took a break again shortly thereafter, conducting the Berlin State Opera Orchestra on April 13, but canceling all subsequent appearances.

After returning to the field on June 19, he appeared at the Lucerne Festival and the Salzburg Festival in August until the 22nd.

In his statement on the cancellation, he said that he is still battling the effects of the vasculitis he was diagnosed with in the spring and that he must follow his doctor’s advice and focus on his own health and complete recovery.

Regarding his decision to ask Thielemann to understudy him, he said, “The State Opera is a very important place for me. That is why I am very happy that my esteemed colleague has declared his willingness to take over conducting the first and third cycles on short notice. We have known each other for a long time, so I know that the new “Ring of the Nibelung” is in extremely good hands.

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