Page 39 - GTMF 2024 Season Program

sir donald runnicles

Music Director

Over the course of a career spanning 45 years, includes a new production of Richard Strauss’ Die
Sir Donald Runnicles has built his reputation on Frau Ohne Schatten and revivals of the Zemlinsky
enduring relationships with major symphonic and one-act Der Zwerg (The Dwarf), Arabella, Intermezzo,
operatic institutions. Focusing on depth over breadth, Tristan und Isolde and Verdi’s Don Carlo. He returns
he has held chief artistic leadership positions at the twice to Sydney Symphony over the course of the
Deutsche Oper Berlin (since 2009), San Francisco season and makes guest appearances in Chicago,
Opera (1992-08), Grand Teton Music Festival Houston, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cincinnati.
(since 2005), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Runnicles tours regularly with the DOB to destinations
(2009-16), and Orchestra of St. Luke’s (2001-07). such as the Edinburgh International Festival, the
Maestro Runnicles was also Principal Guest London Proms, Royal Opera Oman and Dubai. He
Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for has joined the Philadelphia Orchestra in tours to
more than two decades (2001-23), and he is the China, summer residencies at Bravo! Vail Music
first ever Principal Guest Conductor of the Sydney Festival in Colorado, and annual subscription concerts.
Symphony Orchestra (since 2019). In February 2024, A frequent guest conductor with the Chicago
Runnicles was appointed as Chief Conductor of the Symphony, Runnicles’ performance history dates
Dresden Philharmonic, which will begin with the back to 1997. Over a decade-long relationship with
2025-26 season. the Vienna State Opera, he led new productions of
Known as a consummate Wagnerian and conductor Parsifal, Britten’s Billy Budd and Peter Grimes, as well
of German Romantic repertoire, Maestro Runnicles as core repertoire pieces.
leads the DOB this season in a new production of Runnicles’ extensive discography includes recordings
the Richard Strauss rarity, Intermezzo, directed by of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, Mozart’s Requiem,
Tobias Kratzer, as well as revival performances of Orff’s Carmina Burana, Britten’s Billy Budd,
Parsifal and two full cycles of Wagner’s Ring des Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, Bellini’s I Capuleti
Nibelungen cycle. At the Metropolitan Opera, e i Montecchi, and Aribert Reimann’s L’invisible. His
he conducted eight performances of the Otto recording of Wagner arias with Jonas Kaufmann
Schenk production of Tannhäuser. Other 2023-24 and the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin
appearances included the Dresden Philharmonic, won the 2013 Gramophone prize for Best Vocal
Dallas Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony and Recording, and his recording of Janáček’s Jenůfa
Utah Symphony, where he led the world premiere with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Deutsche
of a new concerto written and performed by Sir Oper Berlin was nominated for a 2016 GRAMMY®
Stephen Hough. award for Best Opera Recording.
Runnicles spends his summers at the Grand Teton Sir Donald Runnicles was born and raised in Edinburgh,
Music Festival in Jackson, Wyoming. This eight-week Scotland. He was appointed OBE in 2004, and was
festival of symphonic and chamber music, five of made a Knight Bachelor in 2020. He holds honorary
which are programmed, planned and conducted degrees from the University of Edinburgh, the Royal
by Runnicles as Music Director, takes place amid Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and the San
the breathtaking beauty of Grand Teton National Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Park. In Summer 2024, GTMF highlights include a
semi-staged Magic Flute, concerts with Augustin
Hadelich and Yo-Yo Ma, and two Fifth Symphonies
by Mahler and Vaughan Williams.
Runnicles’ 2024-25 season opens with a
70 Birthday celebratory concert closing the
th
Edinburgh Festival—Bruckner 9 Symphony—after
th
which he opens the Dresden Philharmonic season
and then continues to Berlin for a concert with
the Deutsche Oper Berlin Orchester as part of the
Berlin Festival. Runnicles’ DOB 2024-25 season

Summer 2024 gtmf.org 37