Donald Runnicles

The Scottish conductor is general music director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, music director of the Grand Teton Music Festival, and principal guest conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He is also conductor emeritus of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, having served as chief conductor from 2009 to 2016. Highlights of his 2018/19 season include conducting the world premiere of Detlev Glanert’s opera Oceane at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and guest engagements at the Tonhalle Orchester, and the Cincinnati, Dallas, and Toronto symphony orchestras. Maestro Runnicles’s former posts include music director of San Francisco Opera (1992 to 2008), principal conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (2001 to 2007), and general music director of the Theater Freiburg and Orchestra (1989 to 1993). His recording of Wagner arias with Jonas Kaufmann and the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin won the 2013 Gramophone Award for Best Vocal Recording, and his recording of Janáček’s Jenůfa with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin was nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. Born in Edinburgh, Runnicles was appointed OBE in 2004, and holds honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Lyric debut: Conductor/Elektra (2018|19)

Last updated: February 2, 2019