Media highlights on James Gaffigan named Music Director of Komische Oper Berlin

James Gaffigan with Artistic Co-Directors Philip Bröking and Susanne Moser following a January 4, 2022 press conference announcing Gaffigan’s appointment as Music Director of the Komische Opera (Photo credit: Jorg Carstensen / DPA)

On January 4, the media has highlighted James Gaffigan’s new appointment of Music Director at the Komische Oper Berlin effective 2023/24 for four seasons.

Opera Wire: James Gaffigan is “a renowned conductor who has worked with such organizations as the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris” and more. Regarding his new appointment, James Gaffigan said, “I am proud to be able to shape this institution in the future as General Music Director and a member of the artistic management team, together with the wonderful orchestra and the entire ensemble. I am grateful that I have been able to enjoy an intensive education and cultural experience since my early childhood, which would not have been possible without the public education system of the city of New York, since I inherently lacked the means. I, therefore, also see my task of giving something back with this gift. I’m looking forward to doing that at the Komische Oper Berlin.”

Slipped Disc: “Just in: an American takes charge of Berlin Opera House. Berlin’s Komische Oper, the sparkiest house in town, has named James Gaffigan as its next music director, starting mid-2023. Gaffigan, 42, is presently in his first season as music director of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, and is principal guest at Trondheim Symphony and Opera and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra; he is also music director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra.”

Musical America: James Gaffigan is “the current music director of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, principal guest conductor of the Trondheim Symphony & Opera and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, and music director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra. Recent guest conducting has included the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester, and further credits range from the Met Opera to the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He ended his ten-year tenure as chief conductor of Luzerner Sinfonieorchester in June.” He will also begin his new position during “a time of transition, both of personnel and place” at Komische Oper.

Germany’s Berliner Zeitung: “The appointment of Gaffigan as general music director is the first major personnel decision of the new double directors Susanne Moser and Philip Bröking. After a symphony concert with the orchestra of the Komische Oper, Gaffigan was the first choice. According to Bröking, a ‘sympathetic, cosmopolitan, easy-going guy’ is exactly the right person at the head of such a stylistically diverse orchestra.”

The Violin Channel: “In June 2021, Gaffigan finished his tenure as Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester — a position he held for ten years. He was then appointed as Music Director of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, with which he is currently in his inaugural season. He additionally serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera, Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra. The Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, and Bayerische Staatsoper are amongst the operatic orchestras he has worked with. In Berlin specifically, he led performances at the Deutsche Oper, and on January 9, 2022, he will lead the Staatskapelle Berlin in a concert at the Pierre Boulez Saal.”

Germany’s Tagesspiegel Magazine: “Another maestro has the opportunity to inscribe himself permanently in the history of the Komische Oper: James Gaffigan will take over the post of General Music Director in autumn 2023. The 42-year-old American was appointed by Susanne Moser, the manager of the house, who, together with Philip Bröking, the current opera director, will take over the management of the music theater from Barrie Kosky at the end of the current season. He is flexible in the repertoire, a team player who can develop an ensemble further.”

Germany’s Klassik.com writes: “James Gaffigan was a Conducting Fellow at Tanglewood Music Center. From 2009 he spent three years as Associate Conductor with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in a position specially set up for him. Before that he was Assistant Conductor at the Cleveland Orchestra, where he worked from 2003 to 2006 under Music Director Franz Welser-Möst. His international breakthrough came when he won the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition in 2004. He was subsequently invited by orchestras such as the Munich Philharmonic, the Dresden State Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. In 2005 he made his operatic debut in Zurich with ‘La Bohème’, invitations took him to the Glyndebourne Opera, the Houston Grand Opera and the Vienna State Opera, to name just a few.”

France’s Radio Classique’s Philippe Gault addresses: “Already very present on the music scene of the German capital, James Gaffigan, 43, who has conducted performances at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, has just conducted the New Year's concerts of the German Symphony Orchestra at the Tempodrom and will be the guest of the Staatskapelle on January 9, will conduct the next Komische Oper Berlin New Year's concert at the start of the 2023/2024 season for a 4-year term.”

Germany’s RADIO RST: “He will take over the position at the beginning of the 2023/2024 season, the opera house announced on Tuesday. His contract then runs until the summer of 2027. Gaffigan is one of the outstanding conductors of his generation and is celebrated above all for his natural lightness and compelling musicality.”

Archysport: “The first opportunity to see James Gaffigan conduct the Komische Oper Orchestra will be at the 2023 New Year’s Concert. He is no stranger to Berlin, in 2006 he was able to lead the German Symphony Orchestra in the series “Debut in Deutschlandradio”. Since then he has been invited by the DSO on a regular basis; he has just directed the orchestra’s New Year’s Eve program in the Tempodrom. On January 9th, he can also be seen at a matinee in the Boulez Saal with the Staatskapelle.”

Michael Cooper of the New York Times: “Opera News: @JamesGaffigan will become the next music director of the Komische Oper Berlin, beginning in 2023.”

The Netherlands’ NPO Radio 4: “The Komische Oper Berlin is a unique cultural center and a haven for people from all over the world.” According to the management, Gaffigan is “an excellent fit for the opera house … a team player, young and curious, yet experienced. His broad repertoire and versatility will continue to be of great value in the coming years. We are happy and grateful, both from a personal and artistic point of view!”