Stuttgart Opera

Klaus Zehelein era (1991–2006)

During the era of Opera Intendant Klaus Zehelein, the company has won the Opera House of the Year award by the German magazine Opernwelt more often than any other company: in 1994 (the inaugural award), 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and in 2006. Pamela Rosenberg was co-opera Intendantin between 1991 and 2000, with Eytan Pessen acting as casting director from 2001 to 2006. Klaus Zehelein brought in directors Ruth Berghaus, Christof Nel, Hans Neuenfels, Peter Konwitschny and Jossi Wieler. He created the Junge Oper, dedicated to performing music theatre works for young audiences. Numerous CD and DVD productions document Zehelein's interest in modern works and new staging concepts. Under Zehelein's direction, the Stuttgart Opera was an ensemble-based opera company, with Catherine Naglestad, Tichina Vaughn, Eva-Maria Westbroek were members of his ensemble, and Jonas Kaufmann a frequent guest artist. GMDs of the company were Gabriele Ferro (1992–1997) and Lothar Zagrosek (1997–2006). Albrecht Puhlmann succeeded Zehelein as the company's Intendant.