German-American conductor Evan Rogister will become the new General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. The supervisory board confirmed the appointment of the 46-year-old on Monday, the opera house announced.

Ina Karr and Evan Rogister

Rogister will take over the position from the 2027/28 season, coinciding with the appointment of the new General Director, Ina Karr. His contract initially runs for five years. He succeeds Vitali Alekseenok, whose contract expires in the summer of 2027.

Born in Durham, North Carolina, in 1980, Rogister has worked at prestigious opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Semperoper Dresden, and the Zurich Opera House, as well as at festivals including the Glyndebourne Festival and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence. From 2009 to 2011, he was Kapellmeister at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. From 2018 to 2025, he served as Chief Conductor of the Washington National Opera.

“With Evan Rogister, we are gaining an excellent, internationally experienced opera conductor,” said the designated General Director, Ina Karr. He brings with him an exceptionally broad repertoire, ranging from Mozart to contemporary music. Furthermore, he is distinguished by his extensive expertise in Wagner and Strauss. “This is a perfect fit for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein with its diverse program,” she emphasized.

"The Deutsche Oper am Rhein is a beacon with exceptional radiance, enormous artistic diversity, and strong regional roots," Rogister explained. From an international perspective, the long-standing theater partnership between the cities of Düsseldorf and Duisburg is, in particular, "a model of successful collaboration." He is very much looking forward to building something for the long term together with the orchestras, the choir, the ensemble, the general director, and the team.

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