Germany's Staatstheater Mainz Appoints New Music Director

German conductor Gabriel Venzago will step into the role

Conductor Gabriel Venzago has been appointed as the new General Music Director of Staatstheater Mainz and Chief Conductor of Philharmonisches Staatstheater Mainz, effective from the 2025/26 season. He succeeds Hermann Bäumer, who has held both positions since 2011.

Venzago is presently the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz. He has appeared with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz, Tiroler Sinfonieorchester, Orchester Theater Erfurt, and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Until 2023 he was the First Kapellmeister at Salzburg Landestheater, where he led new productions of Mozart’s Magic Flute, Bizet’s Carmen, and experimental theater productions. He also gave the world premiere performance of the opera Cinderella by the young British-German composer Alma Deutscher.

Venzago studied at the University of Music and Theatre in Munich and the State University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart. He began his career working as a répétiteur and musical assistant at the Baden-Baden Easter Festival. 

"Gabriel Venzago is one of the up-and-coming young conductors of our time," said Katharina Binz, Germany's Culture Minister. "I am sure that Mr. Venzago will give the orchestra new impulses. I am also looking forward to the productions in the field of musical theatre and dance that we will be able to experience with him at the Mainz State Theatre."

"Mr. Venzago can look forward to a professional working environment and an outstanding orchestra, which he takes over after the fourteen-year tenure of Hermann Bäumer. I would like to thank Mr. Bäumer for his outstanding work in Mainz and look forward to the current last season with him at the top of our Mainz State Orchestra as well as for the first season of Mr. Venzago from the summer of 2025."

"Today I am very enthusiastic about my contract as the new GMD of the State Theatre and chief conductor of the Mainz State Orchestra," Venzago said. "I am already full of drive to create great moments from the 2025/26 season together with the entire team, the Staatsorchester and all the ensembles of the house and to experience great moments with our audience. I thank you for your trust and look forward to the magic inherent in every beginning."