Two Ensembles, One Conductor: Sounds Like Synergy

The Cleveland Orchestra and the Zurich Opera are in talks about possible future collaborations. Franz Welser-Möst serves as music director for both groups, and he owes much of his international success to Zurich Opera’s director general, who has tirelessly promoted the sometimes controversial young conductor. “Welser-Möst has been considering using the orchestra pit at Severance Hall – as did Artur Rodzinski in the 1930s and Lake Erie Opera Theater in the 1960s – to present full-scale opera productions. It isn’t unreasonable that a production originating at the Zurich Opera – Pereira mentioned Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos and Capriccio and Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte as possibilities – could be adapted for the Severance Hall stage.”