The Nationaltheater Mannheim  has appointed Alistair Lilley as its chorus director. Lilley is expected to begin this role in the summer.

He will succeed Dani Juris, who will be going to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin. Currently the choir director at the Theater Regensburg, Lilley studied piano, organ, and conducting at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio in London. He has served on the staff of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Scottish Opera, Opera North, and more.

“In the last 11 seasons with the great choir in Regensburg I have been able to gain a lot of wonderful musical experience, both in the opera and in the operetta and musical area,” said Lilley in a press release. “I am now very much looking forward to working with the choir in Mannheim and to the new musical challenges associated with the varied repertoire at the Nationaltheater Mannheim.

“During my preliminary conducting in Mannheim, I was also able to feel the great quality and professionalism of the choir, its joy in singing music by different composers from different eras and what professional skills it possesses. The pleasant discussions with the entire team were a clear sign that the group is characterized by a good team spirit, which suits me very well.”