Carl St.Clair gets Berlin opera post

Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair has been appointed music director of the Komische Oper Berlin beginning in 2008, the orchestra announced Thursday.

The six-year appointment at one of the most adventurous theaters in Germany, founded in 1947 by producer Walter Felsenstein, will not change his relationship with the Orange County-based orchestra, which he has led since 1990, St.Clair said. His Pacific contract runs through 2009.

“My relationship with Weimar, where I am also chief conductor of the German National Theater, will change, and my relationship with the Thornton School of Music at USC will have to change,” St.Clair said from Nashville, where he was conducting Philip Glass’ “The Passion of Ramakrishna,” a co-commission by the Pacific and Nashville symphonies.

“Opportunities for guest conducting will lessen considerably. But this is a very important step for me and my career and will complement all that I’m doing in Orange County.... There’s an opportunity to create some interesting and important projects. Whether they come to California, I’m not sure. I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.”