The Deutsche Oper Berlin will enter a new era of musical direction from the 2026/27 season, opting against the immediate appointment of a General Music Director and instead embracing a team-based model.
At a press conference on 22 September, designated general director Aviel Cahn, who takes office in summer 2026, announced that Maxime Pascal and Michele Spotti will serve as Principal Guest Conductors, while Titus Engel becomes Conductor in Residence. The plan was presented alongside Berlin’s Senator for Culture, Sarah Wedl-Wilson.
The decision follows the early departure of Sir Donald Runnicles, who will conclude his tenure as General Music Director in 2026, one year earlier than planned. Cahn explained that both management and orchestra preferred to take more time before naming a successor, allowing for “an inspiring, team-based solution” during the first years of his tenure.
Three distinctive profiles
According to Cahn, the appointments bring together complementary strengths. Pascal, known for his deep engagement with 20th-century repertoire, has already built a strong rapport with the company. Spotti, one of the leading younger conductors of the Italian Romantic tradition, will contribute through productions and concerts. Engel, long associated with innovative opera projects in the German-speaking world, will focus on new creations, symphonic work, and experimental formats at the company’s smaller venue, the Tischlerei.
Each Principal Guest Conductor will take on at least two productions (premiere or revival) and a symphonic concert per season. Engel will lead world premieres, a concert, and cross-disciplinary projects that connect the opera house to Berlin’s broader cultural landscape.
Reactions from the conductors
“I am deeply honoured and proud to continue building a strong relationship with the Deutsche Oper Berlin,” said Pascal. Spotti described Berlin as “a city of artistic exploration and musical dialogue,” while Engel highlighted his eagerness to help bridge the opera house with the wider urban scene.
The orchestra, which grew into a “young, modern ensemble” under Runnicles’ stable leadership, expressed readiness to collaborate closely with the three conductors as they shape the company’s musical future.
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