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Wheels are in motion for a comeback of renowned conductor, Christian Thielemann, at the Green Hill. According to reports from the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the Bayreuth Festival is considering partnering with the 64-year-old maestro once again. During the latest gathering of the Festspiel-GmbH's administrative board, it was revealed that discussions regarding future musical assignments for Thielemann are underway.
On the request for comment, spokesperson Hubertus Herrmann simply confirmed, "Yes, he'll return." However, he cautioned that nothing has been officially signed yet and further information would be disclosed during the press conference. As for his involvement with 'Lohengrin,' Thielemann himself affirmed he will take the reins of the opera.
Slated to reappear on the Richard Wagner Festival program in 2025, 'Lohengrin' will make a return after a gap of two years, having last been staged by Yuval Sharon. Thielemann previously handled the conductor duties for this Bayreuth production until not long ago.
Thielemann's presence at Bayreuth has been a constant for some time, with the festival website extolling the yearly impact of his 'groundbreaking interpretations,' as Thielemann himself stands recognized as one of the world's finest Wagner interpreters, following only Felix Mottl in this esteemed list.
Having gained prominence with his 2000 debut in 'Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,' Thielemann played under the tutelage of the late festival director Wolfgang Wagner, who took on both the role of mentor and authority figure. Since then, his influence on the festival has transcended the ordinary.
Uncertainty had brewed around Thielemann's future role on the Green Hill, despite his deep-rooted ties with Germany's foremost opera festival. His new appointment as Musikdirektor at Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden, set to take effect in 2024, had weakened speculation of an official post at Bayreuth.
The Bayreuth staging of 'Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg' for 2025 is another major event on the horizon. At the 2024 Festspielhaus, Daniele Gatti, the incoming conductor for the Berlin State Opera, will assume the mantle, replacing Thielemann.
Amid the last year of the 'Lohengrin' production at Bayreuth – for now – Thielemann and Festival Director Katharina Wagner had divergences of opinion on whether to maintain the original "Führer" term in the opera.
During a dress rehearsal, Katharina Wagner prompted tenor Klaus Florian Vogt, who starred in the title role, to replace "Führer" with "Schützer" as the opera draws to a close. Thielemann expressed disbelief at this alteration, which he projected as unjustifiable.
"The text stays original, and I'm faithful to that standard," Thielemann commented. "I don't meddle with notes, and neither should I touch the text. Everyone interprets things differently, but we must also accept the diversity of ideas."
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- With his extensive history at Bayreuth, Thielemann has led numerous productions, including 'Parsifal' (2001), 'Tannhäuser' (2002), and the complete 'Ring' cycle from 2006 to 2010. He also directed 'The Flying Dutchman' in 2012 and 'Tristan und Isolde' and 'Lohengrin' from 2015 to 2018[1].
Though Thielemann's role as Musikdirektor at Bayreuth concluded in 2020, he gained another significant appointment as Generalmusikdirektor for the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin. His tenure at the Berlin State Opera commenced in September 2024[1].
In light of these commitments, it remains unclear if Thielemann will secure an official position at Bayreuth in the future. His current focus lies primarily on the Berlin State Opera.
