Michael Boder withdraws from Macabre

An emergency surgery has forced conductor Michael Boder to withdrawn from this week's performances of Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre, the SF Opera has just announced. German conductor Alexander Rumpf takes over the remaining performances starting this Friday, making his unscheduled company debut.

“Our thoughts are with Michael who is recuperating very well and is in good spirits,” says SF Opera General Director Pamela Rosenberg. “Depending upon the swiftness of his recovery, the doctors say that there is a chance he may be able to return before the final performance."

Rumpf has conducted "Le Grand Macabre" in a concert version in London, starring Willard White, Caroline Stein and Graham Clark, three of the principals who are also featured in the SF Opera's current production. The music director of the Oldenburg State Theatre in Oldenburg, Germany, he has also conducted Ligeti's opera at his company.


© 2004 C. Chang