(Credit: Peter Adamik)

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced the extension of the contracts of Artistic Director Elisabeth Sobotka and Principal Conductor Christian Thielemann until July 31, 2034.

The Board of Trustees of the Oper in Berlin Foundation approved the extension of both contracts at its meeting on Oct. 8, 2026 and on Oct. 14, the contracts were signed by Stefan Evers, Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion, Elisabeth Sobotka and Christian Thielemann, in the presence of Wolfram Weimer, Minister of State for Culture and Media.

In a statement Sobotka said, “It is an honour and a particular pleasure for me to be able to continue leading the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Berlin Senate and the Board of Trustees of the Berlin Opera Foundation, and I look forward to continuing to work with Christian Thielemann as General Music Director. This continuity gives us the opportunity to build on the strong start to our trusting collaboration and to move forward into the future with renewed strength.”

Thielemann added, “It is wonderful that I am able to continue my highly harmonious collaboration – both on a personal and artistic level – with the Staatskapelle Berlin and Elisabeth Sobotka. Over the past three seasons, we have already been able to explore a wide-ranging repertoire. It is therefore with great anticipation and excitement that I look forward to the opportunity to continue nurturing our core repertoire and to discover new works.”

Sobotka became the Intendant of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin in 2024-25 season add Thielemann began as General Music Director in the 2024-25 season.