Washington National Opera Announces Two Conductor Changes for Fall Productions

Washington National Opera today announced two changes to its fall conductor roster: Andreas Delfs will lead WNO's production of Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos (October 24 through November 13, 2009) and Philippe Auguin will conduct concert performances of Wagner's Götterdämmerung (November 7 and 15, 2009). WNO Music Director Heinz Fricke, originally scheduled to lead these productions, has had to withdraw due to medical restrictions on his travel. See below for artist biographies; complete program information available at www.dc-opera.org or upon request.

Commenting on the change, Maestro Fricke, who makes his home in Berlin, Germany, said, "I was so looking forward to being in Washington with my orchestra, especially for such stunning works as Ariadne and Götterdämmerung. Ultimately though, it is in my best interest to heed my doctors' advice and therefore regret I am not able to make the trip to Washington. Given the reality of the situation, I am honored to pass the baton to maestros Delfs and Auguin; WNO audiences should be quite pleased to have such experts in the pit." Earlier in the year, Mo. Fricke withdrew from WNO's production of Wagner's Siegfried, as he was recovering from heart surgery.

WNO General Director Plácido Domingo commented that, "Heinz Fricke is a beloved member of the WNO family, and a maestro in the truest sense of the word. His expertise in the music of Strauss, with whom he studied, and of Wagner would have made for thrilling performances. We are all disappointed that he is not able to be with us this fall, but are pleased that his health is progressing well. We wish him all the best."

Maestro Domingo continued, saying, "WNO is very fortunate to have secured two world-class conductors to lead our international casts. WNO extends a warm welcome to Andreas Delfs and Philippe Auguin, both of whom will make their company debuts."

Artist Biographies

Andreas Delfs (Ariadne auf Naxos-October 24, 28, 31, November 2, 5, 8m, 10, 13, 2009)

Andreas Delfs just celebrated his twelfth and final year as Music Director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) during the 2008-09 season. Previous posts include the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as Music Director and artistic consultant, and General Music Director of Hannover, Germany. Maestro Delfs' recordings include Roberto Sierra's Missa Latina with the MSO, Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3 and 4 with the London Symphony Orchestra and pianist John O'Conor, Sacred Songs with Renée Fleming and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. In 2005, Mo. Delfs and the MSO became the first American orchestra to distribute their live recordings through iTunes. In addition to his role as Principal Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony, upcoming performances include the Vancouver Symphony, the Columbus Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Copenhagen Philharmonic, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, and a production of Carmen at the Cincinnati Opera. He Delfs has also appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the orchestras of Frankfurt, Berlin, London, Leipzig, Dresden, Zurich and others. Operatic highlights include a highly praised debut with the New York City Opera conducting performances of Carmen, a production of Hans Werner Henze's König Hirsch for Stuttgart's Württemberg State Theatre and György Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre.

Philippe Auguin (Götterdämmerung-In Concert, November 7 and 15m, 2009)

Philippe Auguin, one of the most sought after conductors of his generation, is highly successful both in the symphonic and operatic field. He has collaborated with renowned opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera (Lohengrin, Bohème, Doktor Faust, Frau ohne Schatten), Teatro alla Scala (Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte, Macbeth, Ballo in Maschera, Forza del Destino, Dialogues des Carmelites), Hamburgische Staatsoper (Der Fliegende Holländer, Tannhäuser, Salome, Otello, Falstaff, La Bohème, Turandot) and the Royal Opera House (La Traviata, Tosca, Madama Butterfly), among many others. From 1998 to 2005, Maestro Auguin celebrated sensational successes as General Music Director of the Staatstheater Nürnberg. Among his numerous notable projects was a new production of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. Born in France, Mo. Auguin studied in Vienna and Florence, and was music assistant to Herbert von Karajan before working closely with Sir Georg Solti. He was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany , the country's only general state honor) and has been Honorary Consul of the Republic of France since June 2002. For Philippe Auguin's complete biography, click here.

Heinz Fricke, WNO Music Director

Maestro Heinz Fricke is the music director of Washington National Opera. He made his company debut in 1992 conducting Der Fliegende Holländer. Since his appointment in 1993, the company has seen him conduct numerous productions, including Parsifal, Der Rosenkavalier, Don Giovanni, Salome, Die Walküre, Il Trovatore and Die Zauberflöte. He previously held the position of music director of Staatsoper Berlin (1961-1992) and Den Norske Opera (1984-1990). Maestro Fricke has made many recordings of both operatic and symphonic repertoire and has frequently conducted at Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Bayerische Staatsoper, Wiener Staatsoper and Hamburgische Staatsoper. He has also conducted the major symphony orchestras of Europe, South America, Japan, and Australia. Mo. Fricke conducted Parsifal at Royal Opera House-Covent Garden with Plácido Domingo, which he also conducted on that company's tour to Rome. He recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of his conducting debut.

For complete program information for Ariadne auf Naxos, click here: http://dc-opera.org/performances/ariadneaufnaxos.asp

For complete program information for Götterdämmerung-In Concert, click here: http://dc-opera.org/performances/gotterdammerung.asp

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.