Collapsed during performance: Munich Opera announces the death of conductor Stefan Soltesz
Created: 07/23/2022, 08:21
By: Thomas Eldersch
The conductor Stefan Soltesz collapsed during a performance at the Munich National Theater and then died.
© David-Wolfgang Ebener/dpa
The conductor of the Bavarian State Opera, Stefan Soltesz, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday evening at the age of 73 - after collapsing in the middle of a performance.
Munich – Great sadness and horror at the sudden death of conductor Stefan Soltesz.
The 73-year-old collapsed during a performance and died a short time later.
Friends, colleagues and companions are shocked and sad.
The incident took place on Friday evening (July 22).
Nothing was initially known about the cause of death.
Conductor Stefan Soltesz is dead: Intendant says goodbye
The Bavarian State Opera announced the death of the conductor on Friday evening.
A spokesman said the 73-year-old's collapse occurred during the performance of the opera "The Silent Woman" in Munich.
"I am deeply saddened by the news of the collapse and death of Stefan Soltesz," said director Serge Dorny, according to the spokesman.
“We are losing a gifted conductor.
i lose a good friend
My thoughts are with his wife Michaela.”
Born in Hungary, Soltesz studied conducting, composition and piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
After positions as a conductor in Vienna and Graz and as a musical assistant to Karl Böhm, Christoph von Dohnányi and Herbert von Karajan at the Salzburg Festival, he was conductor of the Hamburg State Opera, the Deutsche Oper Berlin and general music director at the Braunschweig State Theater.
From 1992 to 1997 he was chief conductor of the Flemish Opera in Antwerp/Gent, from 1997 to 2013 general music director of the Essen Philharmonic and artistic director of the Aalto Music Theater, as the Bavarian State Opera further announced.
In addition, many guest conductors have been added.
Sympathy in the network after the death of the conductor Stefan Soltesz
There is a lot of interest on the internet.
Companions say goodbye.
A former musician wrote of him: "Just sad and tragic!
I learned a lot from him at the Hamburg State Opera back then.” The Dortmund Theater writes: “Our sincerest condolences and a deep bow.” Merkur culture editor Markus Thiel speaks on Twitter of a “tragedy in the Bavarian State Opera”.
(phone with dpa)