Stephan Zilias
A conductor acclaimed for his ‘phenomenal precision’ (BR-Klassik), Stephan Zilias takes up his new role as Music Director of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen from the 2026/27 season which will feature a production of Lohengrin and a double bill celebrating the music of Peter Benoit, as well as several symphonic concerts. A sought-after guest conductor, Stephan makes his debut at Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck with a new production of Un ballo in maschera and returns to Staatsoper Hannover for a revival of Lohengrin and Savonlinna Festival for il Barbiere di Siviglia.
The 2025/26 season saw Stephan return to Theater an der Wien for a successful new production of Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland and make his Prague State Opera debut with Aida. Stephan has made several appearances at Deutsche Oper Berlin conducting revivals of Detlev Glanerts Oceane, Fidelio and Antikrist. Stephan was previously Generalmusikdirektor of Staatsoper Hannover, stepping down at end of 2025/26 following an extension of his initial term. Stephan’s tenure saw the theatre win Best Opera House at the 2020 Oper! Awards and receive multiple nominations by Opernwelt Magazine, including Best Opera House and Rediscovery of the Year for Marschner's Vampyr. Other highlights include titles such as Greek Passion, Mefistofele, Rusalka, La Juive, Carmen, Otello, Lear and Parsifal.
Equally at home on the symphonic stage, last season Stephan made his debut with ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien collaborating with Asmik Grigorian for a concert in Wiener Konzerthaus. He also returned to Netherlands Radio Philharmonic for his debut performance in Het Concertgebouw. Other highlights include NDR Radio Philharmonie Hannover, Staatstheater Nürnberg, Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Berner Symphonieorchester and Bremen Philharmonic. Stephan studied piano and conducting in Cologne, Düsseldorf and London and later held positions at Mainz Opera, Theater Lüneburg and Bonn Opera. From 2018 to 2020, Stephan was engaged at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he served as principal conductor and assistant to Sir Donald Runnicles. In 2018, Stephan was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.