Herzog was born in Berlin, the son of the actor Peter Herzog. He studied Philosophy at the
Free University of Berlin. From 1989 Herzog was an assistant to the stage directors
Dieter Dorn and
Hans Lietzau at the
Munich Kammerspiele. In 1993 he directed there the premiere of Marlene Streeruwitz's
New York. New York, in 1994 the premiere of Simone Schneider's
Die Nationalgaleristen, also
Die Nacht kurz vor den Wäldern (
The Night Just Before the Forests) of
Bernard-Marie Koltès. His production of
David Mamet's
Oleanna at the
Schauspielhaus Zürich was invited to the festival Berliner Theatertreffen.
Tannhäuser, conducted by
Franz Welser-Möst with
Peter Seiffert in the title role, was recorded on DVD in 2003. From 2000 to 2006 he was
Schauspieldirektor at the
Mannheim National Theatre and also staged there Mozart's operas
Così fan tutte and
Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and Wagner's
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Herzog's 2008 Zurich production of Handel's opera
Rinaldo, conducted by
William Christie, was recorded on DVD, moving the scene from Jerusalem during the
First Crusade to an airport lounge. In 2008 he also staged the "domestic comedy"
Intermezzo of Richard Strauss, conducted by
Peter Schneider, with
Christiane Kohl as Christine, "the composer's formidable – and frequently hysterical – wife",
Rod Gilfry as the composer, and
Roberto Saccà as Baron Lummer. His first production at the
Semperoper was in 2009 Handel's
Giulio Cesare in Egitto. Herzog has been director of the
Dortmund Opera since August 2011, where he first staged Wagner's
Der fliegende Holländer, conducted by
Jac van Steen, with Andreas Macco in the title role and
Christiane Kohl as Senta. In March 2012, he staged Mendelssohn's oratorio
Elias, with Christian Sist in the title role, as a polit story, presenting scenes such as an intensive care unit, a beach party and a presidential campaign. Herzog staged
Die Zauberflöte at the opening of the
Salzburg Festival 2012, conducted by
Nikolaus Harnoncourt. == References ==