Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Antwerp, Belgium, recently announced that the German conductor Stephan Zilias has been appointed as its new Music Director. He will step into the role in September 2026, at which point he will succeed Alejo Pérez.
Zilias first worked with the company during the 2024/25 season, where he led a performance of Weber’s Der Freischütz in both Ghent and Antwerp.
Since 2020, Zilias has served as General Music Director of the Hanover State Opera. He has earned a reputation there for strong performances of both Romantic and contemporary repertoire, and has recently directed performances of Lohengrin, Der Rosenkavalier, Parsifal, Lear, La Juive, Greek Passion, Carmen, Otello, The Turn of the Screw, Mefistofele, Rusalka, and Der Vampyr.
Zilias has a close relationship with Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he previously served as Kapellmeister and assistant to Sir Donald Runnicles. He also makes regular appearances at the Leipzig Opera, the Prague State Opera, the Savonlinna Festival in Finland, and the Theater an der Wien.
He studied piano and orchestral conducting in Cologne, Düsseldorf, and London, and he holds an Associateship at the Royal Academy of Music.
“I have very fond memories of Der Freischütz, where I immediately felt a strong connection with the spirit and atmosphere of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen,” says Stephan Zilias. “I have always admired the great artistic openness and clear vision with which the company keeps opera and ballet relevant, lively and exciting. Together with the orchestra, the choir, the singers and the entire team, we will continue to explore new musical perspectives — a wonderful task that I am very much looking forward to.”
“In Stephan Zilias, we welcome a conductor with international experience, a broad musical vision and a great sense of adventure,” said Jan Vandenhouwe, artistic director of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. “His musicality, openness and ability to combine tradition with innovation fit perfectly with the artistic direction of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen.”