After working as a journalist with a focus on opera and voice for the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)", "Neue Musikzeitung", "Opernwelt" and Hessischer Rundfunk, he was artistic director of the opera house of Brussels, La Monnaie, from 1990, and has been Intendant of the Oper Frankfurt since 2002, where he encouraged a capable ensemble, international guest artists, and the production of rarely performed operas.