David Charles Abell

David Charles Abell (born 1958) is an American conductor of opera, orchestral music and musical theater. Described as "a protean talent" with "impeccable and inspired" skill as a conductor, he is active in symphonic music, opera and musical theatre. Abell was one of Leonard Bernstein's last protégés, and collaborated with Bernstein on many works during the 1980s. and 25th Anniversary concerts. He is also recognized as an authoritative interpreter of the musicals of Stephen Sondheim.

In addition to maintaining an active international opera career, Abell has worked to restore clarity to musical scores with poorly preserved source materials.

Early life and education Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Abell was raised in the Philadelphia and Chicago areas, studying viola, piano, organ, trumpet and voice. As a member of the Berkshire Boy Choir, he sang in the 1971 world premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Mass at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The experience sparked his interest in theatrical compositions and fuelled a lasting passion for dramatic music.

In 1976, Abell enrolled at Yale University, where his teachers included John Mauceri and Rob Kapilow. He studied with Nadia Boulanger and Robert D. Levin at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau before returning to Yale to complete his B.A. in 1981.

Early professional career In 1982, Abell participated in the inaugural Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute summer school, studying with Bernstein and Daniel Lewis. He continued his postgraduate training from 1983 to 1985 at the Juilliard School under Jorge Mester and Sixten Ehrling

Abell made his professional debut conducting Bernstein's Mass at Berlin's Deutschlandhalle in 1982. The following year he deputized at short notice for John Mauceri conducting Britten's The Turn of the Screw at Washington National Opera. In 1985 he made his New York City Opera debut conducting The Mikado. Abell led San Francisco Opera's 1989 national tour of Carmen and was conductor for City Opera's national tour of The Barber of Seville in 1994.

Collaborative work with Leonard Bernstein One of Leonard Bernstein's last protégés, he assisted the composer-conductor on many projects during the 1980s and helped prepare definitive editions of Bernstein's musical theatre scores.

Opera In recent years, Abell has made debuts at Cincinnati Opera (Porgy and Bess), Lyric Opera of Kansas City (Silent Night), Opera Philadelphia (Die Zauberflöte), and Hawaii Opera Theatre (Eugene Onegin).

Musical theatre The driving force behind Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday celebration at the 2010 BBC Proms,

Abell was music director of the West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies from its opening in March 2010 until March 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, he conducted the French premieres of four Sondheim musicals: Follies at the Opéra de Toulon, Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Abell conducted London's Laurence Olivier Awards ceremony from 2011 to 2014. He has appeared twice at English National Opera, conducting Sweeney Todd with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson in 2015 and Carousel with Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins in 2017.

Pops career A regular guest conductor with the Philly Pops since his debut in 2013, Abell released a Christmas CD with them in 2015 and was appointed principal guest conductor of the organization in 2017. He served as music director and principal conductor from 2020 to 2023. He made his Boston Pops debut in 2016 with an all-Gershwin concert.

Music scholarship Abell has helped restore clarity to musical theatre scores affected by accretions of revival productions and poorly preserved source materials, notably West Side Story. It is one of the first American musicals to be published in a critical edition.

Career highlights Year Organization Title Notes2025Cape SymphonyA New Era concertBrahms, Saint Saëns, Walker Curtis Institute of Music Candide Curtis Centennial Celebration 2022 Opéra du Rhin West Side Story dir. Barrie Kosky Philly Pops Hammerstein: The Song Is You Liz Callaway, soloist 2021 Philly Pops A Philly Pops Christmas 10-concert series Lyric Opera of Kansas City Lyric Opera Goes to Hollywood dir. Crystal Manich 2020 Atlanta Opera Porgy and Bess dir. Francesca Zambello Kyiv National Academic Theatre of Operetta A Celebration of George Gershwin Florian Feilmair, piano 2019 Lyric Opera of Kansas City La bohème dir. Kathleen Smith Belcher Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine Music of Bernard Herrmann Festival Ciné-Notes 2018 Hawaii Opera Theatre Eugene Onegin dir. Tomer Zvulun BBC Symphony Orchestra Bernstein Centenary Concert including Serenade, Songfest 2017 Opera Philadelphia Die Zauberflöte dir. Barrie Kosky English National Opera Carousel with Alfie Boe, Katherine Jenkins 2016 Cincinnati Opera Die Fledermaus with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Opera Orlando One Voice Orlando Opera gala benefitting Pulse shooting charities Boston Pops Orchestra Gershwin Celebration Boston Pops debut 2015 Opera North Kiss Me, Kate based on 2014 Critical Edition Lyric Opera of Kansas City Silent Night with Kansas City Symphony 2014 London Philharmonic Orchestra Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 Live accompaniment to film Brief Encounter BBC Proms War Horse Prom dir. Melly Still Théâtre du Châtelet Into the Woods French premiere 2013 Menier Chocolate Factory Candide Musical Supervision Théâtre du Châtelet Sunday in the Park with George French premiere Opéra de Toulon Follies French premiere 2012 Leicester Curve Theatre Finding Neverland World Premiere Cincinnati Opera Porgy and Bess dir. Lemuel Wade 2011 Pacific Overtures dir. Amon Miyamoto Théâtre du Châtelet Sweeney Todd French premiere 2010 O2 Arena Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert BBC Proms Sondheim at 80 with Judi Dench, Bryn Terfel Adelphi Theatre Love Never Dies World Premiere 2009 Cape Town Opera Porgy and Bess UK Tour 2008 Théâtre du Châtelet On the Town dir. Jude Kelly Glimmerglass Opera Kiss Me, Kate dir. Diane Paulus 2007 Tokyo International Forum Take Flight Asian Premiere Festival dei Due Mondi Maria Golovin dir. Vincent Boussard The New York Pops Gala concert Carnegie Hall debut 2006 Young Vic Tobias and the Angel dir. John Fulljames Royal Albert Hall Show Boat dir. Francesca Zambello 2004 Wales Millennium Centre Grand Opening Concert dir. Ken Caswell Tokyo International Forum Candide dir. Amon Miyamoto 2003 Bregenz Festival West Side Story Floating Stage production Manon Lescaut dir. Mario Corradi 2002 BBC Proms Richard Rodgers Centenary Concert dir. Kenneth Richardson 2000 Theater St. Gallen The Three Musketeers World Premiere 1999 Opera North The Thieving Magpie dir. Martin Duncan 1998 Royal Albert Hall Madama Butterfly dir. David Freeman 1997 Royal Albert Hall Carmen dir. Frank Dunlop 1996 Prince Edward Theatre Martin Guerre World Premiere 1995 Royal Albert Hall Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert 1991 Théâtre Mogador Les Misérables dir. Trevor Nunn & John Caird 1985 New York City Opera The Mikado dir. Lotfi Mansouri 1983 Washington Opera The Turn of the Screw U.S. conducting debut 1982 Deutschlandhalle Mass Professional conducting debut

Selected discography Year Title Label Notes 2024 State Fair and The 20th Century Fox Songbook CD: Dutton Vocalion Michael Feinstein, Scarlett Strallen, Clare Teal, James Taylor (tenor), Derek Greten-Harrison, BBC Concert Orchestra 2014 Something's Gotta Give CD: Chandos Records Simon Keenlyside, Scarlett Strallen, BBC Concert Orchestra 2013 Forever CD: Warner Classics/Erato Records Diana Damrau, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic 2010 Les Misérables DVD: Universal Studios 25th Anniversary ConcertAlfie Boe, Nick Jonas, Ramin Karimloo, Lea Salonga Tobias and the Angel CD: Chandos Records World Premiere RecordingJames Laing 2005 Strauss: Dance and Dream DVD: Euroarts Concert and DocudramaWiener AkademieLesley Garrett 2004 The Little Prince CD, DVD: Sony Music World Premiere RecordingJoseph McManners, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Lesley Garrett, Willard White, Aled Jones, BBC Concert Orchestra 2002 Richard Rodgers:An Enchanted Evening DVD: Image Entertainment Drury Lane Centennial ConcertJudi Dench, Lesley Garrett, Kim Criswell 2000 Man of La Mancha CD: Jay Records First Complete RecordingBBC Concert OrchestraRon Raines, Kim Criswell 1996 Martin Guerre CD: First Night Records World Premiere Recording Les Misérables CD: First Night RecordsDVD: BBC Video 10th Anniversary ConcertRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraColm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Michael Ball, Alun Armstrong, Ruthie HenshallLa bohème (selections)Madama Butterfly (selections) CD: Tring Records Royal Philharmonic OrchestraClaire Rutter, Paul Charles Clarke, Stephen Gadd 1994 Miss Saigon CD: First Night Records Complete International Symphonic Cast RecordingJoanna Ampil, Peter Cousens, Kevin Gray, Hinton Battle, Ruthie Henshall 1992 Les Misérables CD: Disques Tréma Paris Cast RecordingRobert Marien, Louise Pitre, Jérôme Pradon, Stephanie Martin