Schwerin says goodbye: Rohde is moving to Würzburg! A farewell concert!

Schwerin says goodbye: Rohde is moving to Würzburg! A farewell concert!

After almost five years, Mark Rohde will give up his position as General Music Director (GMD) of the Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle in Schwerin and move to the Mainfranken Theater in Würzburg. This decision comes as a surprise to many, especially because Rohde only announced his departure two years before his contract expired. Nevertheless, the musician looks forward to the next phase of his career with sadness, but also anticipation. How Northern Courier reports, Rohde's final performance in Schwerin will be a concert entitled “Fire, Lust for Life!” be on July 12th.

His time in Schwerin began in the summer of 2020, amid Corona measures that delayed his first performance in front of a full house. Nevertheless, Rohde quickly established itself and enlivened the Mecklenburg State Theater with a varied cultural offering. A highlight of his term in office was the founding of an orchestra academy that introduced young musicians to the Staatskapelle. This initiative was praised by General Director Hans-Georg Wegner as a significant step forward for the orchestra.

A farewell with deep thanks

In a recent interview, Rohde is deeply grateful for the experiences he was able to gain in Schwerin. “I have developed a special relationship with the city and its people,” he says. He will miss the atmosphere and the support of the audience very much. The Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle, one of the oldest orchestras in Germany, also remains close to Rohde's heart; He particularly appreciates the sound quality, which particularly characterizes the strings.

Rohde sees the decision to move to Würzburg as an opportunity to further develop artistically. The schedule of the Philharmonic Orchestra in Würzburg offers him the chance to conduct more operas, which is particularly important to him. “The artistic challenges in Würzburg are attractive to me,” he emphasizes.

Cultural funding in view

A central issue during Rohde's term in office was financial support from the state. While he noted progress in cultural financing, he warned of the existing deficits. The cultural finance report 2024 provides information about the public financing of cultural areas in Germany and shows how different the distribution of funds looks in comparison between the federal states. Rohde highlights the differences between Bavaria and Northern Germany and sees culture as an essential part of society's self-image.

While Rohde will take over the musical direction of several opera productions such as “Dido and Aeneas” and sales promotions such as the Federal President’s Christmas concert in Schwerin until the end of the season, the question of his successor remains open. The search will be carried out in close coordination with the Staatskapelle in order to find a worthy successor who can continue Rohde's legacy.

In conclusion, it can be said that Rohde was able to shape an era in Schwerin that took into account numerous positive developments not only in music education, but also in the area of ​​promoting young talent. It remains to be seen whether he will leave equally big shoes to fill in Würzburg, but expectations are high.