Stockhausen had been scheduled to conduct the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and additional musicians in the world premiere of his MIXTUR (2003), commissioned by outgoing Salzburg Festival director Peter Ruzicka for the final performances of his tenure.

MIXTUR (2003) — a typically unconventional Stockhausen score "for five groups of instruments, four sinus generator players [sic] and four sound consoles" — will be conducted by the composer's chief assistant, Wolfgang Lischke. The AP quotes Stockhausen as saying that letting Lischke lead the performance is "the best solution for the future of my work."