American woman: two firsts in Berlin

The Berlin Philharmonic has named Pamela Rosenberg, general director of the San Francisco Opera, as the first woman and first American to serve as its administrative director, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Orchestra director Sir Simon Rattle said he welcomed the board’s decision.

Rosenberg, 60, a native of Los Angeles, has served as general director of the San Francisco Opera since 2001. Before that she held directorships across Europe, including at the Deutsche Schauspielhaus in Hamburg and the Frankfurt Opera.

Rosenberg announced in June 2004 that she wouldn’t renew her contract with the San Francisco Opera, saying she wanted to focus on new productions and live closer to her family in Europe. She will be succeeded there by David Gockley.