Daniel Barenboim, general music director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and chief conductor of the Staatskapelle Berlin, has to cancel the musical direction of the new production of Richard Wagner's opera tetralogy "Der Ring des Nibelungen" in the staging by Dmitri Tcherniakov for health reasons.
Christian Thielemann will conduct the first and third cycles.
The second cycle is directed by Thomas Guggeis.
The first cycle will premiere between October 2nd and 9th.
Barenboim justified his refusal as follows: "I'm still struggling with the consequences of the vasculitis I was diagnosed with in the spring and with this decision I'm following the advice of my treating physicians".
Barenboim recently conducted concerts of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which he founded, including in Salzburg.
In November, Barenboim turns eighty;
he has been in office in Berlin since 1991.