Over the course of a career spanning 45 years, Sir Donald Runnicles has built his reputation on long-lasting relationships with major orchestral and operatic institutions. Focusing on depth over breadth, he has held chief artistic leadership positions at the Deutsche Oper Berlin (since 2009), San Francisco Opera (1992–2008), Grand Teton Music Festival (since 2005), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (2009–16), and Orchestra of St. Luke’s (2001–07). Sir Donald was the Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for two decades (2001–23), and he is the first ever Principal Guest Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (since 2019).
Known as a consummate Wagnerian and conductor of German Romantic repertoire, Runnicles leads the Deutsche Oper Berlin (DOB) this season in productions of Parsifal and two full performances of the Ring cycle. He will also conduct a new production of Il trittico by the young German theater director Pinar Karabulut. For the Metropolitan Opera, he conducts eight performances of the Otto Schenk production of Tannhäuser. He appears as guest conductor with the Dresden Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony and Utah Symphony, where he will lead the world premiere of a new concerto written and performed by Sir Stephen Hough.
Runnicles tours regularly with the DOB to destinations such as the Edinburgh International Festival, the London Proms, Royal Opera Oman, and Dubai. He has joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in tours to China, summer residencies at Bravo! Vail Music Festival in Colorado, and annual subscription concerts. He is a frequent guest conductor with the Chicago Symphony, with a performance history dating as far back as 1997. He has a long relationship with the Vienna State Opera, conducting new productions of Parsifal, Britten’s Billy Budd and Peter Grimes, as well as other core repertoire pieces.
Runnicles’ extensive discography includes recordings of Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Britten’s Billy Budd, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Aribert Reimann’s L’invisible. His recording of Wagner arias with Jonas Kaufmann and the Orchestra of the DOB won the 2013 Gramophone prize 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 for Best Opera Recording.
Sir Donald Runnicles was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was appointed OBE in 2004 and was made a Knight Bachelor in 2020. He holds honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Photo Credit: Simon Pauly