Alondra de la Parra takes over as conductor from Franz Welser-Möst for the new production of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE staged by Yuval Sharon

Press release of 1 February 2019

With enormous regret, Franz Welser-Most is forced to withdraw from DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (Magic Flute) at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, premiering on 17th February in a new production staged by Yuval Sharon.  Maestro Welser-Most has been struggling with a knee injury since the summer but was hoping to find a way to be in Berlin as planned. However, he has now been told by his doctors that he must undergo treatment on the knee immediately to avoid further complications. Having been closely involved with the production over the last several months, it is hugely disappointing for him, as he expressed in his official statement to the Berlin State Opera.

Thankfully the Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra has agreed to take over this production and to prepone her Berlin State Opera debut that was planned for the season 2019/20.

Matthias Schulz: “We deeply regret that Franz Welser-Möst, who was involved in this project since 2015, has to withdraw from conducting DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE due to health issues and we send him all the best wishes for a speedy recovery. We are however glad, that Alondra de la Parra is stepping in so spontaneously and we are looking forward to the possibility of working together with her at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden for the first time.”

Alondra de la Parra has conducted over 100 of the world's most prestigious international orchestras including Orchestre de Paris, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. In 2017, she began her term as Music Director of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In October 2018 she opened the Camerata Salzburg’s season and conducted the OPUS Klassik at Konzerthaus Berlin. During this year’s Mozartwoche in Salzburg she was the conductor for the new production of Mozart’s “Thamos”. She also frequently works with the Royal Ballet at London’s Covent Garden. This upcoming spring, together with Camerata Salzburg, de la Parra will be a guest at the Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival. On Sunday, 3rd February at 11.10 pm, the documentary »La Maestra« about Alondra de la Parra will be broadcast for the first time on ARTE. The film, produced by BFMI, followed the conductor on three continents and during her milestones of 2017/18 and offers insights into the life of a musician who embodies a new type of conductor, between the cultures and musical genres.

DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Premiere: 17th February 2019 at 6 pm
Further performances: 21st, 23rd and 28th February as well as 1st, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 16th March 2019
Staatsoper Unter den Linden

The production is supported by the Freunde und Förderer der Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Tickets and further information: +49 30 20 35 45 55 and www.staatsoper-berlin.de