Julien Chavaz appointed in Essen

Julien Chavaz has been appointed Intendant of Aalto Musiktheater and Essener Philharmoniker from the 2028/29 season, following a selection process involving around 40 candidates. 

Chavaz has served as Generalintendant of Theater Magdeburg since 2022, where his programming across opera, theatre and music theatre has been recognised with Theater des Jahres 2025 and a FAUST Prize. His own directing projects at Magdeburg in 2025/26 included Schnittke’s Leben mit einem Idioten and Nico Dostal’s Clivia at Magdeburg, alongside new productions of Britten’s Peter Grimes for Korea National Opera and Rossini’s L'italiana in Algeri at Grand Théâtre de Genève.

In a press release, Chavaz said: ‘I’m really excited to be making musical theatre and music here. It will be a very exciting move for me from Magdeburg in the east to Essen in the Ruhr area. This city fascinates me, and I’m very keen to get to know it even better.’

Essen’s mayor Thomas Kufen, chairman of the Supervisory Board that made the appointment, said: ‘We are convinced that in Julien Chavaz we have gained a personality who will continue the successful development of our institution with artistic quality, innovative strength and a clear vision for the future.’