The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Thomas Lausmann, currently the Head of Music at the Vienna State Opera, will become the Met’s Director of Music Administration at the start of the 2019–20 season.

The Met announced that John Fisher, the current Director of Music Administration, decided to step down to resume his freelance musical career. The company noted that he will continue to coach many of the world’s top singers on a freelance basis, including on occasion at the Met.

In a press statement, music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin said, “John Fisher is a brilliant musician and one of the world’s great vocal coaches. He has been an invaluable artistic asset to the company and we are sad to see him go. I am delighted, however, that Thomas Lausmann has agreed to take on this essential position at the Met. I know that he will ensure continued musical excellence at the company.”

Fisher added, “I have hugely enjoyed all my years in management at the Met – it has been a real privilege. I know I will be sad to leave but I also look forward to returning to my musical career, and to returning to the Met from time to time.”

Meanwhile, Lausmann said, “I am thrilled to join the Met as Director of Music Administration and am very much looking forward to working with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the entire Met family.”

Lausmann has been Head of Music at the Vienna State Opera since 2013. He is also a pianist with the Vienna Philharmonic and has worked at the Bayreuth Festival, New York City Opera, Washington National Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Seattle Opera, and at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.