Announcement of Barenboim's successor at the Berlin State Opera

Berlin's culture senator Joe Chialo (CDU) plans to announce the new musical director at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden on Wednesday (12:00). The post has been vacant since Daniel Barenboim released himself from his duties as music director.

The "Berliner Zeitung" reported, citing several sources, that Christian Thielemann is to be his successor. The 64-year-old has so far always referred to his contract with the Staatskapelle in Dresden, which runs until 2024.

The 80-year-old Barenboim had also taken over the Staatskapelle in 1992 as general music director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. He relinquished the musical direction of the Staatsoper at the beginning of the year due to health reasons.

With Barenboim's retirement, Chialo was responsible for filling the high-profile post, which received international attention. About the succession he spoke also several times with the future Intendant Elisabeth Sobotka. Chialo stressed that the aim was to "preserve the house in its excellence and tradition, yet open doors for a modern future."