Oper Frankfurt extend Sebastian Weigle's contract

0,0001174

The board of the Städischen Bühnen Frankfurt voted, unanimously, to extend Sebastian Weigle's contract as General Music Director to 2023.

Sebastian Weigle (1961 in Berlin) has led the Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester since the 2008/09 season: „The decision to commit myself to this wonderful house for another five years was easy. When Bernd Loebe's contract was extended to 2023 we naturally talked in depth about our plans for the future – we get on well and have trust in each other's abilities. Added to this, of course, is my desire to continue my journey with the Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester and the ensemble of singers – here too, in addition to extraordinarily high quality, reigns a wonderful atmosphere which makes it possible for me to work at the highest possible level.“

The happiness in Weigle's words is shared by the Members of the Orchestra: „The Orchestra's Committee welcomes today's decision to extend General Music Director Sebastian Weigle's contract to 2023 – the year when Intendant Bernd Loebe is due to leave. It is certain that this will ensure that the prominent position Oper Frankfurt holds among opera houses in Germany can be maintined for a furture decade and hopes to increase the attractiveness of Museums Konzerte by close collabortion between the GMD and Frankfurter Museumsgesellschaft.“

Prof. Dr. Felix Semmelroth, Frankfurt's Minister for Culture, is also thrilled: „Extending Sebastian Weigle's contract as General Music Director of Oper Frankfurt assures the high international artistic status for future years. Admired equally by the press, orchestra and audiences, Weigle is jewel in our city.“

During the 2014/15 season at Oper Frankfurt Sebastian Weigle has led Hänsel und Gretel and Die Frau ohne Schatten, which he also conducted at the 2014 Munich Opera Festival, for his interpretation of this work in Frankfurt in 2003 he was voted „Conductor of the Year“ (Opernwelt). Later this season he conducts a new production of Der Rosenkavalier and the first ever performances in Frankfurt of Bohuslav Martinů's Julietta. Other engagements in 2014/15 include a new production of Der Freischütz and repertoire performances of Die Zauberflöte at the Staatsoper in Berlin. GMD at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelone from 2004 to 2009, he took up the same post in Frankfurt in 2008/09. Productions here in recent seasons have included Rusalka, Ariadne auf Naxos, Don Giovanni and Die Liebe der Danae (in concert), Königskinder, The Gambler, La fanciulla del West, Otello, the Ring (available on CD and DVD OehmsClassics) and concert performances of Wagner's early operas, which are also available on CD – OehmsClassics. This former Staatskapellmeister at the Staatsoper in Berlin has also enjoyed great success at other opera houses, including Zurich Opera, the Semperoper in Dresden, the Hamburg State Opera (2014 Salome), Vienna State Opera, the opera houses in Cincinnati and Sydney, the Metropolitan Opera New York, the Bayreuth Festival (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg) and Tokyo Spring Festival.