DAWID RUNTZ conductor
The applause of the orchestra members at the end of the concert and the overall atmosphere that visibly projected the sympathy between the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and the conductor were a confirmation of the high artistic level and exceptional abilities of the young conductor.
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Zdenka Weber
KLASIKA.hr
Dates
Bio
Chief Conductor at the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra since January 2021, Dawid Runtz is increasingly recognized internationally for his impeccable, elegant technique, thorough command of complex scores, extraordinary sensitivity, effective communication, and uniquely evocative performances. Dawid Runtz renew his contract as the chief conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic for another three years, until June 2027. Dawid Runtz is working with orchestras among other: Staatskapelle Weimar, Warsaw Philharmonic, Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein, Prague Philharmonia, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and many others. In years 2017-2024 he was a Principal Conductor at the Polish Royal Opera in Warsaw.
His work with the ZPO so far has featured critically acclaimed performances of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, describing him as „born to conduct” (Jutarnij list). In 2019, he toured Kuwait with the Orchestra, and in January 2020, conducted the concert celebrating the official assumption of the presidency of the Council of European Union by Croatia at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, which ultimately determined his current tenure with the ensemble. In 2021 Dawid Runtz led Zagreb Philharmonic during George Enescu Festival in Bucharest, receiving positive reviews. Most notable among Dawid’s guest conducting projects to date include a successful Japanese debut with the Pacific Festival Orchestra in Sapporo, conducting Strauss’s Don Juan at the closing concert, a tour of Lithuania with the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining independence, the opening concert of the Krzysztof Penderecki Festival with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra on the occasion of the composer’s 85th birthday, and a concert with the same orchestra at the 10. La Folle Journée festival. Dawid has led the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra at the 25th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw. In 2024 conducted Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein during ceremonial concert in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the European Commission.
Past achievements that have built up Dawid’s distinctive conducting craft include participation in the 2. edition of the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy (2016). He also took part in the prestigious masterclass with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam led by Daniele Gatti. In 2018, Dawid won the 3rd Prize and the Audience Prize at the 1st International Hong Kong Conducting Competition, conducting Brahms Symphony No 3 in F major in the finals. Later that year, he worked with the Boston Symphony Orchestra as part of their Assistant Conductor auditions. While in America, he attended the renown Tanglewood Conducting Seminar led by Maestro Stefan Asbury.
The Polish conductor has also received numerous domestic conducting awards and scholarships. In 2022 Dawid Runtz received Croatian Prize „Orlando” for artistic achievements, awarded by Croatian Radio and Television HRT and the Ministry of Culture.
In 2024 he received the Polish national „Jan Kiepura Theatre Music Award" in the category „the best conductor”. From the 2023/24 season, Dawid together with Zagreb Philharmonic records two albums a year for the NAXOS label as part of the new project
"Croatian Music”.
News
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26 May 2024
Dawid Runtz conducts Mahler's 2nd Symphony. Review.
With the performance of the anthological Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Mahler's Resurrection, maestro Dawid Runtz proved that all the above-mentioned praise is justified, and also that his cooperation with the Zagreb Philharmonic continues, opening many more horizons and further perspectives for the realization of interesting and artistically convincing musical works.
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27 Apr 2024
Dawid Runtz renew his contract as the chief conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic for another three years
Director of the Zagreb Philharmonic, Filip Fak, appointed Dawid Runtz as chief conductor, confirming the orchestra's desire, which also decided by a convincing majority to support the continuation of the successful collaboration with the young Polish maestro.
27 September 2024
Dawid Runtz conducts Mahler's 5th Symphony. Review.
In Mahler’s 5th (…) Dawid Runtz took his time in an excellent performance full of respect for the composer and his music. His interpretation was intelligent and transparent, with clearly emphasized
details and an understanding of the whole, but at the same time
exciting and lively, keeping the listeners in constant tension. The orchestra closely followed its chief conductor in a dynamic concert dominated by togetherness.
Media
Dawid Runtz literally hypnotized the audience in the hall with his
strong, original interpretation of Mahler's score - conducting by memory all these countless minutes of music, clearly softening the accents, allowing the musicians to breathe as one very harmonious organism. He led them through Mahler's soundscape in a fascinatingly thoughtful but unburdening way. Their impressive commitment to the difficult delicate dynamics, concentrated patience and above all the kind of enthusiasm, led to, one might even say - „magic” in the hall."
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Petra Pavić
Radio HRT3