Antonino Fogliani †
Principal Guest Conductor
It was with shock and deep sorrow that the Deutsche Oper am Rhein learned of the untimely death of its longtime conductor, Antonino Fogliani, who passed away on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the age of 50, following a serious illness.
Antonino Fogliani, a native of Messina, was one of the most significant and successful conductors of his generation; as a leading specialist in the *bel canto* repertoire, he made guest appearances at major opera houses, festivals, and with orchestras across Italy and Europe. He had been closely associated with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein as Principal Guest Conductor since 2017.
Marwin Wendt, Artistic Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, said: “During his tenure as Principal Guest Conductor, Antonino left a profound mark on the DOR. His extraordinary artistic talent, deep-seated musicality, musical expertise, and emotionally charged interpretive vision lent a special quality to every performance and gifted our house countless unforgettable musical moments. His generous humanity, his musical enthusiasm and integrity, his love for our house—for the singers and musicians—and indeed his love for people in general, served as an inspiration and source of motivation for us all, driving us to achieve our best. In him, we have lost a great artist, a captivating musical force, a friend, and a truly wonderful human being.”
The ensemble, the Chorus of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, and the Duisburg Philharmonic mourn the loss of a great musician who, over the past nine years, conducted numerous performances at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. These included, just a few weeks ago, the premiere of Verdi’s *Il trovatore*—a production Antonino Fogliani transformed into an unforgettable musical highlight together with the ensemble, chorus, and orchestra. He last stood at the conductor’s podium at the Düsseldorf Opera House during the acclaimed final performance of *Il trovatore* on July 19.
The many productions Antonino Fogliani conducted at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein include Donizetti’s *I puritani*, *Don Pasquale*, *Maria Stuarda*, *Lucia di Lammermoor*, *L’elisir d’amore*, *La Fille du régiment*, and *Prima la mamma!*; Mozart’s *Don Giovanni* and *Die Zauberflöte*; Rossini’s *La Cenerentola*, *Il barbiere di Siviglia*, and *L’italiana in Algeri*; Verdi’s *La traviata*, *Don Carlo*, *Macbeth*, and *Otello*; Puccini’s *Madama Butterfly*, *Tosca*, *La Bohème*, and *Turandot*; as well as *Adriana Lecouvreur* (Cilea), *La sonnambula* (Bellini), and *Dialogues des Carmélites* (Poulenc). For the 2026/27 season, Antonino Fogliani was scheduled to conduct the premiere of Boito’s *Mefistofele* as well as performances of *Madama Butterfly*, *Lucia di Lammermoor*, *La traviata*, and *Die Zauberflöte* at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.
Antonino Fogliani, a native of Messina, was one of the most significant and successful conductors of his generation; as a leading specialist in the *bel canto* repertoire, he made guest appearances at major opera houses, festivals, and with orchestras across Italy and Europe. He had been closely associated with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein as Principal Guest Conductor since 2017.
Marwin Wendt, Artistic Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, said: “During his tenure as Principal Guest Conductor, Antonino left a profound mark on the DOR. His extraordinary artistic talent, deep-seated musicality, musical expertise, and emotionally charged interpretive vision lent a special quality to every performance and gifted our house countless unforgettable musical moments. His generous humanity, his musical enthusiasm and integrity, his love for our house—for the singers and musicians—and indeed his love for people in general, served as an inspiration and source of motivation for us all, driving us to achieve our best. In him, we have lost a great artist, a captivating musical force, a friend, and a truly wonderful human being.”
The ensemble, the Chorus of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, and the Duisburg Philharmonic mourn the loss of a great musician who, over the past nine years, conducted numerous performances at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. These included, just a few weeks ago, the premiere of Verdi’s *Il trovatore*—a production Antonino Fogliani transformed into an unforgettable musical highlight together with the ensemble, chorus, and orchestra. He last stood at the conductor’s podium at the Düsseldorf Opera House during the acclaimed final performance of *Il trovatore* on July 19.
The many productions Antonino Fogliani conducted at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein include Donizetti’s *I puritani*, *Don Pasquale*, *Maria Stuarda*, *Lucia di Lammermoor*, *L’elisir d’amore*, *La Fille du régiment*, and *Prima la mamma!*; Mozart’s *Don Giovanni* and *Die Zauberflöte*; Rossini’s *La Cenerentola*, *Il barbiere di Siviglia*, and *L’italiana in Algeri*; Verdi’s *La traviata*, *Don Carlo*, *Macbeth*, and *Otello*; Puccini’s *Madama Butterfly*, *Tosca*, *La Bohème*, and *Turandot*; as well as *Adriana Lecouvreur* (Cilea), *La sonnambula* (Bellini), and *Dialogues des Carmélites* (Poulenc). For the 2026/27 season, Antonino Fogliani was scheduled to conduct the premiere of Boito’s *Mefistofele* as well as performances of *Madama Butterfly*, *Lucia di Lammermoor*, *La traviata*, and *Die Zauberflöte* at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.