Weikert, Ralf (1940– )

Austrian conductor. He studied with Hans Swarowsky and from 1963 worked with the Salzburg Landestheater. He was music director of the Bonn Opera in 1966, and a guest at Copenhagen with operas by Verdi, Mozart, and Stravinsky. He made his Vienna and Hamburg Staatsoper debuts in 1974 and 1975 respectively. He appeared with Zurich Opera from 1976, and Deutsche Oper, Berlin, from 1978. He made his US debut in 1980 with Handel's Giulio Cesare/Julius Caesar at the City Opera and in Los Angeles; between 1987 and 1990 he conducted L'elisir d'amore/The Love Potion, Il barbiere di Siviglia/The Barber of Seville, and La Bohèmeat the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. He has conducted chamber concerts in the UK and at the Salzburg Festival.