AFBS wishes Daniel Barenboim a speedy recovery:
Christian Thielemann will conduct the new RING cycle in October for Daniel Barenboim.
Daniel Barenboim has to withdraw from conducting the new production of Richard Wagner's DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN, staged by Dmitri Tcherniakov, for health reasons. Christian Thielemann will take over the musical direction of the first and third cycles. The second cycle will be conducted by Thomas Guggeis.
It is with great regret that I have to give up conducting the new RING at the State Opera for health reasons. I am still struggling with the consequences of the vasculitis I was diagnosed with in the spring and am following the advice of my treating physicians with this decision.
I am deeply sad not to be able to conduct the new RING. Working with Dmitri Tcherniakov, the great ensemble and the Staatskapelle Berlin is a particularly fulfilling one for me. However, I must now prioritize my health and focus on my full recovery.
The State Opera is very close to my heart. I am therefore very happy that my esteemed colleague Christian Thielemann has agreed to conduct the first and third cycles at short notice. We have known each other for a long time and I know that the RING is in exceptionally good hands with him. Thomas Guggeis, a great young conductor whom I have long supported and admired, will take on the second cycle. I wish them and everyone involved all the best with this production.
-Daniel Barenboim
Matthias Schulz writes, “It is extremely sad that Daniel Barenboim is now unable to conduct the new production of the RING cycle – a unique project that is very important to him and the whole house. The preparations have been going on for many years and we have done everything to make the RING with Daniel Barenboim possible – precisely in the year of his 80th birthday. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Christian Thielemann for taking over the premiere series and the third cycle. Likewise Thomas Guggeis, who conducts the second cycle and has been involved in the preparations for around a year.”