Christian Thielemann has canceled his participation in the Teatro alla Scala’s upcoming “Der Ring des Nibelungen.”

The company said, “Maestro Christian Thielemann has announced that he will have to undergo tendon surgery in October, followed by five weeks of rehabilitation. The operation will force him to renounce all forthcoming engagements, including ‘Das Rheingold’ to be staged at La Scala from 28 October to 10 November, with which the new production of ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen,’ directed by David McVicar, opens. Since he is unable to conduct the prologue to the Tetralogy, which is characterized as a unified artistic endeavor, Maestro Thielemann has announced his intention to withdraw from the entire project.”

As a result, the performances of “Das Rheingold” will be conducted by Simone Young (28 and 31 October, 3 November), and by Alexander Soddy (5, 7 and 10 November).

The company did not announce who will take over the upcoming productions of “Die Walkure” and “Siegfried” which open in the 2024-25 season.

The new Ring Cycle is set to star Michael Volle, Andrè Schuen, Siyabonga Maqungo, Norbert Ernst, Klaus Florian Vogt, Günther Groissböck, Elza van den Heever, Okka von der Damerau, Camilla Nylund, and Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke, among others.