Italian conductor Davide Levi has been selected as the next Julius Rudel/Kurt Weill Conducting Fellow. Levi will assist Kurt Weill Lifetime Achievement Award recipient James Holmes as he prepares for the upcoming premiere of Lady in the Dark at Volksoper Wien opening on 4 December. “I’m delighted that the Julius Rudel fellowship offers young musicians an intensive involvement in creating performances of Weill’s music,” noted conductor James Holmes. “I look forward to working with Davide in Vienna – not just to try and pass on what I’ve learned, but maybe learn new things myself from a fresh and talented pair of ears.”

Since graduating from the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Milan, Levi has gained valuable experience working with orchestras and opera companies in Europe, including Oper Leipzig, the Malmö Operaorkester, Garsington Opera, Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, and Opera North. He assisted with the English Touring Opera’s production of Der Silbersee in 2019. “I am thrilled to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with James Holmes on Weill’s iconic musical play at one of the most important opera houses in the world,” Levi exclaimed. “I can’t imagine a better way to deepen my knowledge of Weill’s style and work, and I am certain that this experience will have a huge and lasting impact on my career.”

Launched in 2015, the Julius Rudel/Kurt Weill Conducting Fellowship supports one or more conductors in the early stages of a professional career who are interested in assisting a master conductor in the preparation of a performance or production of the works of Kurt Weill and/or Marc Blitzstein. Appointed Fellows will gain first-hand experience with the processes and specific approaches of master artists and thereby expand their own artistry, and acquire greater understanding of and comfort level with Kurt Weill’s and Marc Blitzstein’s catalogues. Prospective conductors and organizations interested in hosting a Rudel/Weill Fellow are encouraged to contact Brady Sansone at bsansone@kwf.org.