Isreali conductor Omer Meier Wellber has been named the new musical director of the Teatro Massimo di Palermo.

The conductor will take the position on Jan. 1, 2020. The company also announced that its current musical director Gabriele Ferro will be named Honorary director for life and will continue as Music director until 2019.

Wellber is currently working at the Bayerische Staatsoper in a production of “Les Vêpres siciliennes” and will be the principal director at the Semperoper Dresden during the 2018-19 season. This fall the conductor takes on “Carmen” at the Metropolitan Opera.

The Teatro Massimo di Palermo is currently on summer break and returns with John Turturro’s production of “Rigoletto” starring Leo Nucci and George Petean. The company ends its 2018 season with “La Boheme” starring Marina Rebeka and Jessica Nuccio.