Deutsche Oper am Rhein’s General Director Christoph Meyer has resigned from his position effective March 30, 2025.

Following 15 seasons, Mayer said, “I have decided to take this step after much careful consideration and with a heavy heart. However, after medical consultation, my health unfortunately does not allow me to continue to lead Deutsche Oper am Rhein with the necessary energy, strength and responsibility that this job requires every day. I am very proud of the team we have put together and developed over the past few years, our ensembles, the people responsible in all workshops, on the stages and in all areas, and I know that Deutsche Oper am Rhein is in good hands.”

Meyer worked in Mannheim, Cologne, Barcelona, Berlin, Basel, and Leipzig and joined the Deutsche Oper am Rhein as General Director in 2009. During his tenure, Meyer he presented audiences with a diverse selection of internationally renowned directors and enjoyed a close artistic collaboration with conductor Axel Kober, who served as General Music Director at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein from 2009 to 2024. During this time, numerous singers from the opera house’s large, traditional ensemble saw international careers, such as Maria Kataeva and Adela Zaharia, Bogdan Baciu and Bogdan Taloş, and many more. In total, over 100 new productions were created during Meyer’s leadership.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Duisburg’s Lord Mayor Sören Link added, “Prof Christoph Meyer has made outstanding contributions to opera, ballet and young opera in both Düsseldorf and Duisburg over the past 15 years. With its diverse, ambitious programme and high artistic quality, it has made a significant contribution to anchoring the opera in the urban societies of both Duisburg and Düsseldorf, so that the opera marriage, which is unique in Germany, has long since become an integral part of the cultural offerings of both cities.”

“The programmatic aspiration to inspire as many people as possible for opera and ballet through high artistic quality and a wide range of offerings has decisively shaped the ‘Meyer era’ at the Deutsche Oper since 2009. We are deeply indebted to Prof. Meyer for his services to opera and ballet on the Rhine and deeply regret that his health will not allow him to continue his work for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein until 2027, as originally planned. We wish him all the best from the bottom of our hearts,” added Düsseldorf’s Lord Mayor, Dr Stephan Keller.

In February 2025, the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Oper am Rhein will decide on an interim successor for the artistic direction from April 2025 until probably July 2027.

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