Maestro move: Dresden appoints Israeli conductor

Maestro move: Dresden appoints Israeli conductor

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norman lebrecht

February 22, 2018

The Semper Oper has named Omer Meir Wellber, 36, as its principal guest conductor from next season.

Slightly more startling, at the end of September the Semper will have a new production of Schoenberg’s Moses und Aron, directed by the Catalan bad boy Calixto Bieito.

Alan Gilbert conducts. Sir John Tomlinson und Lance Ryan sing the title roles.

Altogether, there will be 12 new productions at Dresden next season.

Comments

  • Martin says:

    A posting without tabloid character, scandal, ciminality, sex or nudity doesn’t seem to be interesting. Not even the word “Israeli” does help.
    NL, you missed the scandal at Dresden’s Ballet Company, someone is accusing someone of sexual assault.

    • Hilary says:

      Calixto B isn’t scandal worthy but is controversial.
      The Fidelio I saw at the ENO awhile back was visually arresting, but wasn’t in alignment with the drama/music as it swamped all the people on stage. Maybe he’ll do better justice to Schoenberg’s masterpiece.

  • Derek says:

    I believe that Omer Meir Wellber is a real talent.

    I have seen him in concert a number of times. I think that he is gifted, very passionate and energised with a strong desire to make and share great musical performances.

    I am surprised that there has not been more comment and notice of him to date in Europe but I don’t think he is known in the USA.

    Has anyone else here seen him or have knowledge of him?

    • Fred P says:

      He makes his Metropolitan Opera debut on 30 October 2018 conducting “Carmen.”

    • Nigel Harris says:

      Yes. He has appeared several times with the CBSO, and I fully agree with Derek’s assessment. He is a serious talent.

    • FS60103 says:

      Yes – heard him at work in the UK, where he was a close second-place to become MD of a major orchestra a couple of years ago. Intelligent, passionate, instinctively musical – though it’s the intelligence and conviction of his interpretations that stood out for me. Definitely a major talent, though not a personality who will necessary “click” with all orchestras. But then, who is?

  • JoBe says:

    About Sir John Tomlinson and Lance Ryan singing the title roles of Moses and Aron: there is an age gap of 25 years between them. Opera is about making believe and also about talent, of course, but couldn’t they have found a pair of singers that is more brotherly and less like father and son?

  • Derek says:

    Thanks to all for your information and observations. It appears that we who have seen him, so far, are agreed.

    If intelligence, musicianship, and a passionate desire and ability to produce great results is enough then he should succeed.

    FS60103 sums up my view in a slightly different way.

  • Christian Heubes says:

    Mein Beileid an alle Dresdner Musiker!

  • Christian Heubes says:

    Thanks for censorship by slippedisc,but I still feel my sincere condolences for my musician colleagues in Dresden and wished we would look clearly on qualities of conductors like Omar Weibel and beeing not mislead by a show off with so little content in his skills. It just feels sad if entertainer like him come so far with so little understanding for music and conducting. What a strange business!

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