After a two year search for a chief conductor, members of the artistic board of the BR (Bayerischer Rundfunk) Radio Symphony Orchestra, led by the director of the Bavarian Radio Ulrich Wilhelm, decided to enter into contract with Ivan Repušić, a general music director of the State Opera in Hannover, total-croatia-news.com reports today, July 13, 2016 quoting Croatian Novi List daily newspaper.

The 38-year-old Croatian conductor is set to take over his new duties in Munich in autumn 2017 (as announced in May), he will also continue to work in capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony. This will put him in charge of two renowned German orchestras with which he has already established very good cooperation.

In Hanover, maestro Repušić became the first “Kapellmeister” of the local State Opera in 2010. This reputable institution has appointed him as a new general music director in 2015, which is a great honour as the State Opera in Hanover is one of the most famous opera houses in Germany. Meanwhile, Repušić has had a very good collaboration with the Munich Radio Orchestra and after only two performances – a concert performance of Puccini's "La Rondine" and the New Year's Eve concert, he won the sympathy of the Orchestra and its artistic leadership, which demonstrates that Repušić’s knowledge, versatile musical interest and youthful energy are exactly what the ensemble wants.

During his time in Hanover, Repušić has had an active conducting career, performing with renowned European orchestras. He also became a regular guest conductor of the German Opera and the Comic Opera in Berlin, often performing at opera houses in Mannheim, Essen and Hamburg and with the Dresden State Opera Orchestra, the Brussels and Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestras, all the while cooperating with the orchestras and soloists in Croatia.

As merkur.de reports, the future head of the Munich Radio Orchestra isn’t facing an easy task, as the Bayerischer Rundfunk is forced to save money in the coming years. Radio Director Martin Wagner, responsible for the Symphony Orchestra, the Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the BR has recently spoken out a guarantee of existence - but mentioned no details on personnel and financial arrangements.