It seems like a lot of older conductors are slowly getting a chance to make their Bayreuth Festival debuts these days. This year it is all about Plácido Domingo and his debut in “Die Walküre.” And next year will be about Russian conductor Valery Gergiev.

The famed maestro is set to take on “Tannhäuser” in the summer of 2019 with a cast that includes Stephen Gould in the title role, Lise Davidson as Elisabeth and Ekaterina Gubanova as Venus.

The opera will be directed by Tobias Kratzer.

Gergiev is no stranger to works of Richard Wagner, recording a full Ring Cycle with the Mariinsky Orchestra.

It seems that 2018 is becoming quite the year for Gergiev with regards to his relationship with Germany. In addition to the announcement of his Bayreuth debut, the conductor also extended his contract as the chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic until 2025. That announcement was made in February 2018.