Daniel Barenboim, the celebrated pianist and conductor, is stepping down as general music director of the Berlin State Opera after more than 30 years.
Barenboim, 80, announced in October he was “taking a step back” from performing after being diagnosed with a “serious neurological condition” that required surgery on his spine last February.
He made a triumphant return for Berlin’s traditional new year performances of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony on December 31 and January 1, which he conducted while seated, earning standing ovations.
It was not immediately clear who would succeed Barenboim in one of the most coveted jobs in classical music.
“Unfortunately, my health has deteriorated significantly over the past year,” he said in a statement, asking to be released from his contract at the end of this month. “I can no longer deliver the performance that is rightly demanded of a general music director.
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“The years have inspired us musically and personally in every respect. I believe that the Staatsoper [state opera] and I have brought each other great joy.”
Barenboim, who was appointed to the post in 1992, said he was proud to have been elected as chief conductor for life by the resident orchestra of the Berlin State Opera. “Of course, I will remain closely connected with music — as long as I live — and am prepared to continue to work as a conductor in the future, also and especially with the Berlin resident orchestra.”
Barenboim, who was born in Argentina to Jewish parents, has been acclaimed for a career that began as an internationally acclaimed pianist at the age of ten.
Matthias Schulz, the state opera director, said the house was “infinitely indebted” to Barenboim. “For more than 30 years, he has lent his inexhaustible strength as an artistic figure with worldwide charisma to this house and its orchestra,” he said. “One can only imagine how difficult this step must have been for him.”
Barenboim thanked Angela Merkel, the former chancellor, and Wolfgang Schäuble, the former parliamentary speaker, for their loyal attendance of his performances. He was also grateful to Klaus Lederer, the culture senator, for standing by him “in difficult times” in an apparent reference to allegations that he had bullied musicians.
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Richard Morrison, The Times music critic, hailed Barenboim in October as “a pianist who, for half a century, was peerless in Beethoven and Schubert” and as a conductor “who can shape the giant masterpieces of Wagner, Bruckner and Elgar as few others know how”.
