Dawid Runtz is emerging as one of the most distinctive conductors of his generation: a musician of architectural clarity and dramatic instinct, with an uncommon ability to galvanize orchestras into performances of conviction, color, and emotional force. Chief Conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra since 2021 and of Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein since January 2026, Runtz has quickly built a profile that extends beyond his institutional roles, combining the leadership of a music director with the curiosity and intensity of a conductor in rapid international ascent.

Recent and upcoming seasons mark a significant expansion of Runtz’s international presence. Highlights include major appearances with both of his orchestras in leading European musical centers: the Vienna Konzerthaus with Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein and the Großes Festspielhaus Salzburg with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2026, Runtz led Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein on tour in Poland as part of the 30th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, appearing with violinist Arabella Steinbacher in Warsaw, Kraków, and beyond. Upcoming engagements include a collaboration with Lang Lang and the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, at Vaduz Classic with Nadine Sierra, Javier Camarena, and Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein, and his symphonic debut in Italy with Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano.

Runtz’s 2025 Vienna debut with Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein drew exceptional notice for both conductor and orchestra. Reviewing the ensemble’s first appearance at the Wiener Konzerthaus, Pizzicato wrote that Runtz led Scheherazade in a style “as assured and clearly defined as it was elegant, inspiring the orchestra to a magnificent achievement.” The review praised an interpretation of elastic vitality, precision, fantasy, and lush orchestral color.

His work with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra has likewise become one of the defining artistic partnerships of his career. Since assuming the role of Chief Conductor in 2021, Runtz has led the orchestra in a wide range of repertoire, from the central symphonic canon to Croatian masterworks, major international appearances, and ambitious recording projects. Critics have noted his elegant technique, command of large-scale scores, and rare ability to shape orchestral drama with both precision and immediacy.

Runtz’s artistic partnerships include an increasingly prominent roster of international soloists, including Lang Lang, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Fazıl Say, Camille Thomas, Arabella Steinbacher, Michael Barenboim, Roman Simović, Radovan Vlatković, Vivi Vassileva, and others. His recent programming reflects both range and ambition, spanning Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Shostakovich, Strauss, Rimsky-Korsakov, Gershwin, Dorman, Kilar, Penderecki, and more.

Beyond Zagreb and Liechtenstein, Runtz has led orchestras including the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Staatskapelle Weimar, Warsaw Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonia, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, among others. He has also worked with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in masterclasses led by Daniele Gatti. Significant past projects include his Japanese debut at the Pacific Music Festival, concerts with Sinfonia Varsovia marking the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regained independence, and performances at the Krzysztof Penderecki Festival, La Folle Journée, and the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival.

Opera remains an important part of Runtz’s artistic identity. From 2017 to 2024, he served as Principal Conductor of the Polish Royal Opera in Warsaw, where he led a broad range of repertoire and helped shape the institution’s musical profile during a formative period. Drawing on his experience at the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy, Runtz continues to collaborate with the Royal Opera through selected productions, maintaining a close relationship with the Polish operatic landscape while expanding his symphonic profile across Europe and beyond.

Runtz’s artistry has been recognized with numerous international awards and distinctions. He won multiple prizes at the 1st International Hong Kong Conducting Competition in 2018, received the Croatian Orlando Award for artistic achievement, and in 2024 was awarded Poland’s Jan Kiepura Theatre Music Award for Best Conductor. Radio HRT3 described his music-making as “fascinatingly thoughtful,” adding that one might even call it “magic.”