David Charles Abell is that rare conductor whose wide range of repertoire knowledge and skill encompasses symphonic music, opera and musical theatre. In recent seasons he has worked in all three of his métiers, with acclaimed symphonic performances in the UK, Asia and Europe, opera in Italy and the UK, and musical theatre all over the world. He has conducted many of the top British orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, Bournemouth, City of Birmingham, Royal Scottish and Hallé. His many television and radio appearances have encompassed a wide repertoire, from Johann Strauss with the period-instrument Wiener Akademie to Bliss and Bernstein with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

This past summer, he conductred Menotti’s opera  Maria Golovin and a concert celebrating what would have been the late composer's ninety-sixth birthday at the Spoleto (Italy) Festival.  This coming season includes, return engagements with the Royal Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and New York Pops, and a debut at the Glimmerglass Opera conducting Kiss Me, Kate.

Since moving to London in 1996, David Charles Abell has conducted many of the top British orchestras, including the BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, City of Birmingham, Bournemouth and Hallé. Other guest engagements include the Vienna Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Flemish Radio and Iceland Symphony Orchestras.

Operatic engagements include Opera North (La gazza ladra), the Royal Albert Hall (Carmen and Madama Butterfly), Sicily’s Luglio Musicale Trapanese (Rigoletto and Manon Lescaut) and the Young Vic (Jonathan Dove’s Tobias and the Angel, soon to be released on CD). David has participated in the premieres of several West End musicals and conducted complete recordings of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Man of La Mancha. He was personally chosen by the creators of Les Misérablesto conduct the show’s tenth anniversary performance, seen on television worldwide. In 2002, He took the lead in the Richard Rodgers Centenary year, conducting gala concerts at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, the Royal Festival Hall and the BBC Proms.

One of Leonard Bernstein's last protégés, David Charles Abell has been singled out in particular as a fine interpreter of his music. In 2004 he conducted West Side Story on the ‘floating stage’ of the Bregenz Festival and went to Tokyo for a new production of Candide. The following season, he conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a studio concert of Bernstein rarities, including music from Mass and A Quiet Place, works that he studied with the composer.

David has participated in two BBC television projects: Rachel Portman’s opera The Little Prince and The Waltz King, a drama/documentary about the Johann Strausses, father and son (both subsequently released on DVD).Future plans include return engagements with the Royal Philharmonic, Royal Scottish and BBC National Orchestra of Wales, two concerts with the New York Pops, and a CD of music by Broadways’ greatest orchestrator, Robert Russell Bennett.

Born in North Carolina, his early education included intensive study of singing, piano, viola and composition before a decision at age fourteen to concentrate on conducting. He later studied with Nadia Boulanger, Jorge Mester, John Mauceri and Leonard Bernstein, gaining degrees from Yale University and the Juilliard School.