Daniel, Paul (Wilson)
Daniel, Paul (Wilson)
Daniel, Paul (Wilson) , English conductor; b. Birmingham, July 1, 1958. He was a chorister at Coventry Cathedral, and pursued his musical training at King’s Coll., Cambridge (1976–79) and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London (1979–80). His mentors in conducting were Boult and Downes in England, and Ferrara in Italy. He was on the staff of the English National Opera in London from 1980 to 1985. In 1982 he made his debut as an operatic conductor with The Beggar’s Opera with the Opera Factory in London. In 1985 he joined its staff, subsequently serving as its music director from 1987 to 1990. In 1988 he made his U.S. debut in N.Y. with the London Sinfonietta. From 1990 to 1997 he was artistic director of Opera North in Leeds, where he concurrently served as principal conductor of the English Northern Philharmonia. He made his first appearance at London’s Covent Garden in 1993 conducting Mitridate. In 1997 he became music director of the English National Opera. As a guest conductor, his engagements took him all over England and Europe in appearances with major opera houses and orchs. In 1988 he married Joan Rodgers . Daniel’s operatic repertoire is an expansive one, ranging from Cavalli, Mozart, and Verdi to Birtwistle, Maxwell Da vies, and Bose.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire