Thielemann cancels performances for the Strauss Days

Christian Thielemann has relinquished the musical direction of the "Richard Strauss Days" at the Semperoper in Dresden for health reasons. For the performances of the operas "Der Rosenkavalier" and "Arabella" and for the symphony concert of the Staatskapelle, however, the conductors Cornelius Meister, David Afkham and Tugan Sokhiev could be won, the Saxon State Opera announced on Thursday. The "Richard Strauss Days" will take place from April 2 to 16.

The Semper Opera celebrates with Richard Strauss (1864-1949) a "house god". For he maintained a close relationship with the Dresden Opera and the court orchestra of the time. Under the general music directors Ernst von Schuch, Fritz Busch and Karl Böhm, 9 of his 15 operas were premiered here. Strauss dedicated his "Alpine Symphony" to the orchestra. To this day, the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden enjoys an international reputation as the "Strauss Orchestra."