The BBC Symphony Orchestra and conductor David Charles Abell wowed us with a concert that was intel-ligently programmed, lavishly resourced, carefully re-hearsed, and carried off with terrific brio. The Telegraph
Conductor David Charles Abell nailed every hot-spot with keenness and self-evident love, steering the tightened narrative with a great sense of its imperative whilst relish-ing through his instinctive feeling for tempo-rubato the score's aching lyricism. The Independent
Based on a highly successful 2006 stage production, this premiere recording, conducted by David Charles Abell, is superbly realized. National Public Radio
It would be hard to imagine a better musical perform-ance… Conductor David Charles Abell led a nuanced account of this complex score, obtaining playing of depth and beauty. Balance between pit and stage can be tricky... but singers were always audible (even in the nois-iest moments), and solo playing was glorious. Opera News
B i o g r a p h y
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Photo © Eric Richmond
For conductor David Charles Abell, classical music, opera, film music and musical theater all contribute to a diverse career, unified by a serious yet theatrical approach. He has worked with many distinguished artists from both the classical and pop worlds, including Bryn Terfel, Simon Keenlyside, Diana Damrau, Stephen Hough, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Lea Salonga, Idina Menzel, Heather Headley, Petula Clark, Josh Groban, Matthew Morrison, Michael Ball and Michael Feinstein. The many international orchestras he has conducted include including the London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Wiener Symphoniker, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National de Lyon, Prague Philharmonia, Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony, and Boston Pops.
Abell’s television and radio appearances encompass a wide repertoire, from Johann Strauss (with the period-instrument Wiener Akademie) to the launch of the Ten Pieces classical music education project with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Three of his five appearances at the BBC Proms were televised: the Richard Rodgers Centenary, Sondheim at 80, and the War Horse Prom in 2014.
His particular affinity with the operatic repertoire has attracted repeat engagements with Cincinnati Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City as well as guest appearances with Opera Philadelphia, Michigan Opera Theatre, Atlanta Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz and many others. Considered one of the top international conductors of musical theatre, he led the French premieres of four Stephen Sondheim musicals and conducted the Les Misérables 10th and 25th Anniversary Concerts, both broadcast worldwide on TV.
For the centennial of his mentor Leonard Bernstein, David conducted Songfest and the Serenade with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, West Side Story at Glimmerglass and Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and three concerts of Bernstein’s theatre music with the Philly POPS.
Recordings include excerpts from La bohème and Madama Butterfly, Something’s Gotta Give (with Simon Keenlyside), Jonathan Dove’s opera Tobias and the Angel and complete recordings of Miss Saigon and Man of La Mancha. Forever (with soprano Diana Damrau) was chosen as CD of the week by Norman Lebrecht.