Evan Rogister appointed General Music Director
of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Evan Rogister (designated General Music Director)
© Susanne Diesner
The Deutsche Oper am Rhein has chosen the German-American conductor Evan Rogister to be its General Music Director, effective from the 2027/28 season. He will assume the position simultaneously with Ina Karr, the new Artistic Director. The Board of Directors of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein confirmed this appointment at its meeting today.
Evan Rogister (46) is one of the most dynamic and versatile conductors on the international scene. Rogister leads performances with some of the world’s most prestigious theaters and orchestras, including the Metropolitan Opera, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Opernhaus Zürich, Semperoper Dresden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Glyndebourne Festival and Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. From 2018 to 2025, he served as Principal Conductor of the Washington National Opera. At the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, beginning in August 2027, he will assume the position of General Music Director for an initial term of five years.
"With Evan Rogister, we will have an excellent, internationally experienced opera conductor who brings with him an exceptionally broad repertoire – ranging from Mozart to contemporary music. In particular, he will contribute his extensive expertise in the works of Wagner and Strauss. This is a perfect match for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and its broad repertoire”, says Ina Karr, designated Artistic Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. She adds: "For me, great music theatre emerges from collaboration - and this aspect is precisely what one experiences with Evan Rogister: inspiring in rehearsals and performances, communicative, and demonstrating great openness towards a shared artistic vision. Evan and I share common ambitions in reimagining opera for young people and creating new avenues of access for diverse audiences. We look forward to our collaboration with great enthusiasm!"
Evan Rogister adds: “The Deutsche Oper am Rhein combines an incredible artistic legacy with a tradition for innovation. I know of no other company whose identity is so bound up with collaboration; collaboration between two major cities, two superb orchestras – the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker and Duisburger Philharmoniker – two opera houses, the Chorus of the DOR, the largest ensemble of soloists in Europe and many more highly skilled craftspeople. I look forward to collaborating with Ina Karr and the entire team and to making music with this remarkable constellation of talent on the Rhein.“
Evan Rogister (46) is one of the most dynamic and versatile conductors on the international scene. Rogister leads performances with some of the world’s most prestigious theaters and orchestras, including the Metropolitan Opera, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Opernhaus Zürich, Semperoper Dresden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Glyndebourne Festival and Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. From 2018 to 2025, he served as Principal Conductor of the Washington National Opera. At the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, beginning in August 2027, he will assume the position of General Music Director for an initial term of five years.
"With Evan Rogister, we will have an excellent, internationally experienced opera conductor who brings with him an exceptionally broad repertoire – ranging from Mozart to contemporary music. In particular, he will contribute his extensive expertise in the works of Wagner and Strauss. This is a perfect match for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and its broad repertoire”, says Ina Karr, designated Artistic Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. She adds: "For me, great music theatre emerges from collaboration - and this aspect is precisely what one experiences with Evan Rogister: inspiring in rehearsals and performances, communicative, and demonstrating great openness towards a shared artistic vision. Evan and I share common ambitions in reimagining opera for young people and creating new avenues of access for diverse audiences. We look forward to our collaboration with great enthusiasm!"
Evan Rogister adds: “The Deutsche Oper am Rhein combines an incredible artistic legacy with a tradition for innovation. I know of no other company whose identity is so bound up with collaboration; collaboration between two major cities, two superb orchestras – the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker and Duisburger Philharmoniker – two opera houses, the Chorus of the DOR, the largest ensemble of soloists in Europe and many more highly skilled craftspeople. I look forward to collaborating with Ina Karr and the entire team and to making music with this remarkable constellation of talent on the Rhein.“
Speaking about his background, Evan Rogister says: “I am very fortunate to have always felt at home in two musical worlds – my German grandmother, a singer, was a formative influence, as were my later studies at the Juilliard School, and my time as a Kapellmeister at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. This juxtaposition of tradition and modernity, between German musical heritage and the American spirit of innovation – defines my professional life. I am a blend: both German and American; conductor and Fußballfan; Wagner and Weill; Washington and Berlin; and soon, Düsseldorf and Duisburg.”
Ina Karr (designated Artistic Director), Evan Rogister (designated General Music Director)
© Susanne Diesner
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Stephan Keller, the Mayor of the Nordrhein-Westfalen capital city of Düsseldorf, comments on the appointment: “In Evan Rogister, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein gains an artist with extensive international experience. I look forward with great anticipation to the fresh energy this appointment will bring to the cultural development of our cities.” Sören Link,the Mayor of Duisburg, adds: “His deep familiarity with the world of opera and his considerable experience working with international orchestras will be a true asset for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.”
As part of the meticulous selection process, designated Artistic Director Ina Karr has examined intensively other potential candidates for the position of Music Director. She stresses: “It was important for me to have close consultation with the orchestral representatives of both the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra and the Duisburg Philharmonic. It was particularly gratifying to find that we agreed on key issues and shared a common vision of the type of person that a position such as this requires today - especially with respect to such a unique institution as the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and the overall musical responsibilities”.
As part of the meticulous selection process, designated Artistic Director Ina Karr has examined intensively other potential candidates for the position of Music Director. She stresses: “It was important for me to have close consultation with the orchestral representatives of both the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra and the Duisburg Philharmonic. It was particularly gratifying to find that we agreed on key issues and shared a common vision of the type of person that a position such as this requires today - especially with respect to such a unique institution as the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and the overall musical responsibilities”.