Christian Thielemann is not responding to the Metropolitan Opera’s call.

The New York Times reports that the German conductor did not respond to Peter Gelb’s text regarding a production in 2025. The General Manager said, “Thielemann would be treated ‘like operatic royalty’ at the Met.

He added, “he texted Thielemann earlier this year, proposing a production for 2025, and never got a reply.”

The news comes as Thielemann is making his return to the United States to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It will be the first time he conducts the States since 2002. In a statement, Thielemann said, “It’s interesting to meet an orchestra again with more experience. It’s Bruckner Eight; I know the piece so well that I can pay more attention to the orchestra. I’ve done it so much that I’m concentrating more on what you offer. I want to see how is the sound, how the famous Chicago sound is in Bruckner.”

The conductor is not extending his contract with the Semperoper Dresden nor is he bound to any institution once the contract expires. As a result, he will be freelancing. Like the Met, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic are also interested in inviting the conductor. Thielemann used to be a regular with the New York Philharmonic per the New York Times.