Conductor Stefan Soltesz collapses during an opera performance and dies
Died unexpectedly: Conductor Stefan Soltesz
Source: David-Wolfgang Ebener/dpa
Tragic incident at the Munich National Theater: Conductor Stefan Soltesz collapses during a performance and dies shortly thereafter. The Bavarian State Opera is appalled. “We are losing a gifted conductor,” says artistic director Serge Dorny.
Dhe conductor Stefan Soltesz collapsed during a performance at the Munich National Theater and subsequently died. With horror and great sadness, the Bavarian State Opera announces the death of the 73-year-old, a spokesman said. The incident happened on Friday evening while Soltesz was conducting the comic opera “The Silent Woman”.
“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.”
House spokesman Michael Wuerges said on Saturday that Soltesz collapsed in the orchestra pit just before the end of the first act. “He was then immediately cared for by the audience and the theater doctor.” The spokesman did not want to give any information about the cause of death of the Hungarian native.
The hall, in which almost 2000 people were sitting, had been cleared. “And after the break, the performance was finally stopped.” That was around 8:20 p.m., the performance had started at 7:05 p.m. “We were almost sold out.”
According to the State Opera, 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. He made his debut at the Bavarian State Opera in 1995.
Those responsible at the Bavarian State Opera are now advising on an appreciation of the musician. “There will certainly be an event in memory of him,” said spokesman Wuerges.