Even though Konwitschny had already directed operas in West Germany (Bluebeard's Castle, Kassel, 1987, and Fidelio, Basel, 1989), it was only after the fall of the Berlin Wall, that his international career took off.
Selvom Konwitschny havde en basis som vesttysk operainstruktør (Hertug Blåskægs borg i Kassel i 1987 og Fidelio i Basel i 1989), var det først efter Berlinmurens fald, at der kom gang i hans internationale karriere.