Christian Thielemann

Christian Thielemann began as general music director at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin in the 2024-25 season. From 2012 to 2024, he was principal conductor of Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. After holding positions at Deutsche Oper Berlin, in Gelsenkirchen, Karlsruhe, Hannover, and Düsseldorf, he became General Music Director in Nuremberg in 1988. In 1997, the Berlin-born conductor came to his home town as general music director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, before becoming GMD at the Munich Philharmonic from 2004 to 2011. Besides serving as GMD in Dresden, he was from 2013 to 2022 the artistic director of the Salzburg Easter Festival and musical advisor and director at the Bayreuth Festival. Christian Thielemann works closely with both the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, and conducted the New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic in 2019 and 2024. He has received many invitations to conduct at the most important orchestras and opera houses around the world.
Christian Thielemann is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London, honorary professor at Hochschule für Musik “Carl Maria von Weber” Dresden, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Hochschule für Musik “Franz Liszt” Weimar and KU Leuven in Belgium. In 2003, he was awarded Germany’s Order of Merit, in May 2015 he received the Richard-Wagner Prize of the Richard-Wagner-Stiftung Leipzig, and in October 2016 the Semperoper Foundation Prize. In 2022, he received the Ehrenzeichen of the State of Salzburg and the Wappenmedaille in Gold of the city of Salzburg. In 2023, he was named an honorary member of the Vienna State Opera and received the company’s Ring of Honor. He was named an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic in 2024 and honorary conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden. The Free State of Saxony also awarded him with the Saxon Constitutional Medal. Christian Thielemann is patron of the Richard-Wagner-Stätten Graupa. He has received numerous awards for his extensive recordings.