Donald Runnicles

Conductor Donald Runnicles has maintained a balanced career across operatic and symphonic repertoire on both sides of the Atlantic, building an extensive discography through his leadership of prominent ensembles.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on November 16, 1954, Runnicles grew up with a father who directed a furniture supply firm while also serving as an organist and choral director. He first attended George Heriot's School before transferring to George Watson's College, where music formed part of the curriculum. He pursued music studies at the University of Edinburgh and St. John's College, Cambridge, then completed additional training at the London Opera Centre. Early professional experience included a post as vocal coach in Mannheim, Germany, followed by his appointment in 1989 as Generalmusikdirector of Freiburg. There he absorbed the German operatic tradition, concentrating primarily on opera during the initial phase of his career. In 1990 he led Wagner's Ring Cycle at the San Francisco Opera, and two years later he was named the company's music director, a position he held until 2009 before continuing as a frequent guest.

Runnicles made his first recording in 1994, directing the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel for the Teldec label, with which he maintained a long association. After 2000 his concert work grew more prominent. He served as principal conductor of New York's Orchestra of St. Luke's from 2001 to 2007 and as chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra from 2009 to 2016. Since 2001 he has held the post of principal guest conductor with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, remaining in that role through successive music directorships into the early 2020s. In 2005 he became music director of the Grand Teton Music Festival in Colorado, a position he continues to occupy. Appointed Generalmusikdirektor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2007, he took up the post in 2009; the contract has since been extended through 2027.

His sizable recorded output includes collaborations with the ensembles already mentioned. Beyond Teldec he has recorded for Decca, Hyperion, and Sony Classical, in addition to Telarc; in 2023 he moved to Reference Recordings, leading the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra in accompaniments for Garrick Ohlsson's traversal of the complete Beethoven piano concertos.