Donald Runnicles
Encyclopedia
Donald Runnicles is a Scottish
conductor
who has worked extensively in other countries, particularly Germany and the USA.
Runnicles was born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, the son of William Runnicles, a director of a furniture supplier and a choirmaster and organist, and Christine Runnicles. He began his education at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh, moving later to George Watson's College
which offered a specialised music education facility, followed by the University of Edinburgh
and the University of Cambridge
. He worked for a year at the London Opera Centre.
Runnicles began his operatic career as a singers' coach and assistant conductor in Mannheim, Germany. He became Generalmusikdirektor of the city of Freiburg
, Germany
in 1989. Referring to the 10 years he spent in Germany, Runnicles has said, "I have to breathe this air, this Wagnerian air. It was life-changing and that love affair with Wagner led to what was influenced by him: the Bruckner, the Mahler."
In the USA, Runnicles served as Music Director
and Principal Conductor of the San Francisco Opera
from 1992 to 2009. After the conclusion of his contract, he is scheduled to continue to work with the company as a guest conductor. Runnicles has served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
since September 2001, and his current contract there runs through 2009. In March 2008, the orchestra and Runnicles announced the extension of his contract as principal guest conductor through the 2010-2011 season, after which he is scheduled to relinquish the title. From 2001 to 2007, he was also Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke's
. He became Music Director of the Grand Teton Music Festival
in September 2005, having been appointed that August. His most recent Grand Teton contract was through 2011, and as of 2011, he continues to be listed as music director of the festival.
Runnicles first conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
(BBC SSO) in 2001. In October 2007, the BBC SSO announced the appointment of Runnicles as their next Chief Conductor in September 2009, for an initial contract of 3 years. The BBC SSO appointment marks Runnicles' first principal post with a British orchestra. Later the same month, the Deutsche Oper Berlin
announced the appointment of Runnicles as their next Generalmusikdirektor, effective August 2009, for an initial contract of 5 years. In addition to his conducting posts, Runnicles also holds an honorary doctorate from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, as of February 2011. In September 2015, the BBC SSO announced the extension of Runnicles' contract as chief conductor through 2015.
Runnicles has three daughters, Alexandra, Ashley and Tamara, from his past marriage to the violist Elizabeth Prior.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
who has worked extensively in other countries, particularly Germany and the USA.
Runnicles was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of William Runnicles, a director of a furniture supplier and a choirmaster and organist, and Christine Runnicles. He began his education at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh, moving later to George Watson's College
George Watson's College
George Watson's College, known informally as Watson's, is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871 and was merged with its sister school...
which offered a specialised music education facility, followed by the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He worked for a year at the London Opera Centre.
Runnicles began his operatic career as a singers' coach and assistant conductor in Mannheim, Germany. He became Generalmusikdirektor of the city of Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1989. Referring to the 10 years he spent in Germany, Runnicles has said, "I have to breathe this air, this Wagnerian air. It was life-changing and that love affair with Wagner led to what was influenced by him: the Bruckner, the Mahler."
In the USA, Runnicles served as Music Director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
and Principal Conductor of the San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
from 1992 to 2009. After the conclusion of his contract, he is scheduled to continue to work with the company as a guest conductor. Runnicles has served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001...
since September 2001, and his current contract there runs through 2009. In March 2008, the orchestra and Runnicles announced the extension of his contract as principal guest conductor through the 2010-2011 season, after which he is scheduled to relinquish the title. From 2001 to 2007, he was also Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke's
Orchestra of St. Luke's
The Orchestra of St. Luke's is an American chamber orchestra based in New York City.It was founded in the summer of 1979 at the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, New York....
. He became Music Director of the Grand Teton Music Festival
Grand Teton Music Festival
Located in Jackson Hole at the gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the Grand Teton Music Festival offers seven weeks of classical music concerts each summer. The Festival Orchestra is the centerpiece of Grand Teton Music Festival's programming...
in September 2005, having been appointed that August. His most recent Grand Teton contract was through 2011, and as of 2011, he continues to be listed as music director of the festival.
Runnicles first conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation , it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland...
(BBC SSO) in 2001. In October 2007, the BBC SSO announced the appointment of Runnicles as their next Chief Conductor in September 2009, for an initial contract of 3 years. The BBC SSO appointment marks Runnicles' first principal post with a British orchestra. Later the same month, the Deutsche Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper Berlin
The Deutsche Oper Berlin is an opera company located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. The resident building is also home to the Berlin State Ballet.-History:...
announced the appointment of Runnicles as their next Generalmusikdirektor, effective August 2009, for an initial contract of 5 years. In addition to his conducting posts, Runnicles also holds an honorary doctorate from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, as of February 2011. In September 2015, the BBC SSO announced the extension of Runnicles' contract as chief conductor through 2015.
Runnicles has three daughters, Alexandra, Ashley and Tamara, from his past marriage to the violist Elizabeth Prior.