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Ohio Conductor Thinks Vamp Opera Bites

05/08/2008 07:27:02


GENEVA (AP) -- The Zurich Opera says acclaimed conductor Franz Welser-Moest will not take the rostrum for two scheduled billings of a vampire-inspired staging of "Die Fledermaus" at the Zurich Opera.

Spokeswoman Nadia Stafnizzi says Welser-Moest, the general director in Zurich and music director of the Cleveland Orchestra, will not conduct the Johann Strauss Jr. operetta either on May 17th or June 20th because of "artistic reasons."

Last month, the daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung reported that the 47-year-old Austrian was "unhappy" with the staging by his compatriot Michael Sturminger, who infused vampires and Dracula's castle into the 19th century Viennese operetta.

Welser-Moest conducted two performances March 29-30.

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