Just in: Bayreuth replaces two conductors
NewsThe biggest health blow of the summer has befallen the Bayreuth Festival with the loss of the conductor of its new Ring cycle, the Finn Pietari Inkinen.
Cornelius Meister, who has been standing in for Inkinen at rehearsals, will take over.
Markus Poschner, presently in Linz, has been scrambled to replace Meister in the new Tristan und Isolde.
This is a massive upheaval.
Here’s the message that has just gone up on the Bayreuth website:
To his greatest regret, Pietari Inkinen has to resign from conducting the new production of “Der Ring des Nibelungen” for health reasons. A serious corona illness makes his participation in the important stage rehearsals with orchestra impossible. The festival management deeply regrets this and is looking forward to Pietari Inkinen’s Ring conducting next year.
We are extremely grateful to Cornelius Meister for taking over the conducting of the new production of “Der Ring des Nibelungen”. In order to be able to concentrate fully on the intensive final rehearsal period and the upcoming Ring cycles, the conducting of the new production “Tristan und Isolde” will be taken over by Markus Poschner, 2023 by Cornelius Meister.
The image shown is Meister’s Twitter handle.
Where’s Thielemann ? In recent years he jumped whenever necessary in Bayreuth.
He’s no longer welcome in Bayreuth – or any place else.
That’s why he’s conducting Lohengrin there, then. Makes sense.
Because Mister Thomas Mann says so?…
Interesting
He’s there, but must have ruled himself out for some reason.
he is scheduled to conduct concerts at the salzburg festival during the same period
I’ve since heard he wasn’t actually asked. Maybe because of his known commitments in Salzburg.
Massive upheaval? Bit of an over the top reaction
“a serious corona illness”
So Inkinen was not vaxed?
Or is it perhaps long COVID?
For Katharina, being vaxed is a condition of employment in Bayreuth at the moment. Some are not jabbed, though.
then how can it be a conditioin?
It’s in the contracts but you’re not checked when you pick up your pass.
Or perhaps it’s a summer cold? Though it seems that now even a sneeze is a precursor of a major pandemic
I honestly think that it’s not corona issue. Knowing the inner side of Bayreuth festival and its Queen Katharina… I think it was just “enough” for Pietari. From both sides
You may have a point. Inkinen tested positive weeks ago.
One more step in the decadence of this festival. Gatti should have gotten this Ring.
I hope Meister makes a great impression. He deserves it.
It is horrible to speculate about someone who actually is seriously ill.
I’ve also heard he does actually have a bad bout of cv and has returned home to Basel to be treated.
Thielemann is doing Bruckner 9 in Salzburg.
It would be difficult conducting in two cities at the same time….
Markus Poschner is fantastic.Fabulous musician and conductor,absolutely nice ,positive,inspiring guy.It´s been a joy to play for him….
Are you in the orchestra?
It seems that in Bayreuth, only vaccinated musicians are invited. Then every day are being tested. And a lot of people are sick now. Singers Directors Conductors etc…
There was testing every day in 2021 but not this year. About twenty regular orchestra members have not come this year either, mainly due to the vaccination clause.