On Monday, July 30th 2012, the Salzburg Easter Festival received the unexpected news of the passing of Dr. Ulrike Hessler, the Managing Director and Intendant of the Dresden Semperoper.

«With the passing of Ulrike Hessler, we are losing a highly valued collaborator and faithful friend, who was responsible in great measure for the successful conclusion of our new partnership with Dresden and Christian Thielemann. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. Ulrike Hessler will always retain a special place in our memory», says Peter Alward, Managing Director and Intendant of the Salzburg Easter Festival.

«The passing of Ulrike Hessler renders me both speechless and fills me with deep sadness. My working relationship with Dr. Hessler was always extremely constructive and based on a shared agreement of artistic aims and ideals. That this collaboration should come to such a sudden end is an immeasurable loss for all of us», says Christian Thielemann, Artistic Director of the Salzburg Easter Festival.