About
Israeli-born Dan Ettinger is a renowned conductor with a distinguished career spanning multiple prestigious institutions. Currently, he serves as the musical director of Teatro di San Carlo and the New Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, a position he has held since 2018.
Ettinger’s journey in music began with piano studies, followed by a brief career as a singer before he transitioned to conducting. His debut in Tel Aviv in 1999 marked the beginning of a meteoric rise in classical music. From 2003 to 2009, he honed his skills as Kapellmeister and assistant at the Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden, where he conducted an extensive repertoire showcasing his mastery across operatic styles. This included Italian masterpieces by Puccini and Verdi, Mozart’s most celebrated operas, French classics, and German romantic works.
His talent was recognized early on, with the Israel Cultural Excellence Foundation selecting him for classical music in 2003. This recognition paved the way for a series of high-profile debuts: Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper (2004), Hamburg Staatsoper and Los Angeles Opera (2005), Vienna Staatsoper (2007), Washington Opera (2008), Zurich Opera and New York Metropolitan Opera (2009), London’s Covent Garden (2010), and the Paris Opera (2011).
Ettinger’s previous tenure as musical director of the Nationaltheater in Mannheim (2009-2016) further solidified his reputation. He has also held the position of principal conductor for both the Israel Symphony Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
In recent seasons, Ettinger has been a sought-after guest conductor at some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses. His engagements include the Vienna Staatsoper (Carmen, Otello, Aida, La Traviata, Tosca), Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper (La Traviata, Die Zauberflöte, Guillaume Tell, La Bohème, Eugene Onegin, Aida, Turandot, Carmen), London’s Royal Opera House (La Traviata, La Bohème, Turandot, Tosca, Faust), the Paris Opera (La Traviata, Tosca, La clemenza di Tito), the Salzburg Festival (Le nozze di Figaro), the New York Metropolitan Opera (La Bohème), the National Theater in Mannheim (Idomeneo), and the Teatro Real in Madrid (Faust).
Ettinger is also a frequent presence at the New National Theatre in Tokyo, where he has conducted numerous works, including Keith Warner’s production of the Ring Cycle.
Ettinger’s discography reflects his versatility and collaborations with world-class artists. His recordings span live performances and studio albums, featuring acclaimed sopranos Diana Damrau and Adrianne Pieczonka with the Münchner Rundfunk Orchestra for Warner Music Group/Erato and Orfeo, respectively. He has also worked with notable instrumentalists such as Fabio Martino, Hagai Yodan, and Gil Shaham. Ettinger’s opera recordings include a DVD release of Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle from the Nationaltheater Mannheim and Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro from the Salzburg Festival. His ongoing relationship with the New Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra has resulted in multiple CD releases, further showcasing his broad repertoire and artistic range.