Daniel Capps

email: daniel@danielcapps.com

Biography

Daniel Capps Biography

Daniel Capps is a distinguished conductor who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music and ballet. He has achieved considerable recognition and success through his work with prestigious ballet companies and orchestras.

Capps began his journey in the world of dance with the Royal Ballet, making his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2008 and as regular guest conductor thereafter. His work with the Royal Ballet has garnered critical acclaim and has been broadcast worldwide, including a DVD release of Wayne McGregor's ballet Chroma.

Capps made his debut with New York City Ballet in October 2011, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey with this renowned dance company. His talents were quickly recognised, and after several subsequent invitations over the Winter season, he was appointed as Resident Conductor in March 2012.

Also in 2011, Capps made his debut with the National Ballet of Canada, conducting Christopher Wheeldon's ballet Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and in recent seasons he has debuted with Ballet Zürich, The Australian Ballet and Spain’s Compañía Nacional de Danza, all of which have resulted in multiple re-invitations.

Capps has toured extensively to many international destinations, including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cuba, France, Spain, Mexico, Denmark, Australia, Columbia and the United States, performing at prestigious venues such as the Beijing National Theatre, Tiananmen Square, the Kennedy Center in Washington, the Châtelet Theatre in Paris, the Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House and the Gran Teatro in Havana.

Capps' musical journey began with his education at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, where he graduated with distinction and in 2012 was made an Associate (ARAM). During his studies, he honed his skills in conducting under the guidance of notable mentors such as Colin Metters, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Charles Mackerras, Mark Wigglesworth, Peter Eötvös, Thomas Adès, and George Hurst. He was the recipient of several prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Sir Henry Wood scholarship, the Bob Harding Award, the Ernest Read Conducting Prize, and the Fred Southhall Memorial Prize for conducting.

Daniel also acted as assistant conductor to Sir John Eliot Gardiner from 2003, notably with the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, whilst also working for the BBC for their Prix Italia winning film about the first performance of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. Daniel again assisted Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the ORR during their residence at the Châtelet Theatre, Paris, conducting in each of the performances of Berlioz' Les Troyens, the DVD of which won a Gramophone Award. He also worked on La Finta Giardiniera with the English Baroque Soloists at the Royal Opera House and the ORR's Brahms project.

Daniel has collaborated with orchestras and ensembles all over the world, including the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Danish Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Tokyo Philharmonic, Philharmonia Zürich, National Ballet Orchestra of China, New Japan Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra of Columbia, Kansai Philharmonic, Washington Opera Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica del Gran Teatro de La Habana, National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, Opera Australia Orchestra, Orchestre national d'Ile de France, Orchestra of the National Ballet of Canada, Orchestra Victoria, Orquestra de Cadaqués, Orchestre de Franche-Comté, and the Monteverdi Choir, among others. He has conducted concerts throughout Europe, including performances in St. Petersburg, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Barcelona, Stockholm, Prague, Tallinn, Bucharest, Dubrovnik, Krakow, Helsinki, Bratislava, Porto, Brasov, and across the UK.

Throughout his illustrious career, Daniel Capps has left an indelible mark on the worlds of classical music and ballet, earning a reputation for his exceptional conducting skills, versatility and artistry. His natural talent, dedication to his craft, and collaborations with renowned institutions and artists have solidified his status as a respected conductor and a vital figure in the world of music and dance.

Engagements diary

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  • Does art get any better than this? Daniel Capps's conducting was an important source of life throughout. Alastair Macaulay, New York Times
    New York City Ballet
    January 2015
  • Daniel Capps conducts the score with love, good sense and wit. A performance to treasure. Clement Crisp, Financial Times
    La Fille mal Gardée
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    March 2010
  • The Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, under the baton of Daniel Capps was wonderful. It conveyed the bittersweet longing quality of Pulcinella and fueled this memorable night of pure joy in motion. Alexander C. Kafka, DC Theatre Scene
    New York City Ballet
    Kennedy Centre
    March 2018
  • Musically splendid in its depiction by Orchestra Victoria led by guest conductor Daniel Capps Paul Selar, Australian Arts Review
    Obsidian Tear (Salonen/McGregor)
    Annealing (Marks/Topp)
    Everywhere We Go (Stevens/Peck)
    The Australian Ballet
    Orchestra Victoria
    Arts Centre Melbourne
    September 2022
  • Brilliantly conducted by Daniel Capps who gave it all the necessary momentum to sustain the narrative. A wonderful evening. Mark Ronan
    La Sylphide (Løvenskiold/Bournonville)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    May 2012
  • The orchestra has been sounding worthy of the theater’s vastly improved acoustics—particularly strong under the leadership of Daniel Capps. Robert Gottlieb, New York Observer
    Suite No.3 (Tchaikovsky/Balanchine)
    New York City Ballet
    June 2013
  • Philharmonia Zurich's playing is inspired and extremely spirited under Daniel Capps. Marlies Strech, Tanznetz
    Snowblind (Feeney/Marston)
    Glass Pieces (Glass/Robbins)
    Ballett Zürich
    Philharmonia Zurich
    Opernhaus, Zurich
    October 2023
  • Impeccable musical direction for the dance by Daniel Capps with the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville in the pit, magnificent as always. Marta Carrasco, ABC Sevilla (trans.)
    La Sylphide (Løvenskiold/Bournonville)
    Compañía Nacional de Danza
    Teatro Maestranza, Seville
    January 2024
  • The Opera House orchestra led by Daniel Capps delivered a beautiful rendition of Chopin's music Oksana Khadarina, Ballet Magazine
    Month in the Country (Chopin/Ashton)
    Royal Ballet
    Washington Opera Orchestra
    Kennedy Centre Opera House
    Washington
    June 2009
  • The brilliant musical score is played with great style and energy by The National Ballet Orchestra under Daniel Capps. Gary Smith, Hamilton Spectator
    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Talbot/Wheeldon)
    Orchestra of the National Ballet of Canada
    Four Seasons Centre
    Toronto
    June 2011
  • The music was conducted with energetic precision by Daniel Capps, who did a very fine job of uniting music and dance. Mark Ronan
    DGV: Danse a grande vitesse (Nyman/Wheeldon)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    May 2011
  • The Opera Australia Orchestra proves yet again that it rivals this country’s finest ensembles. The sound emanating from the Joan Sutherland Theatre pit under Daniel Capps is glorious.

    Jansson J. Antmann
    Jewels (Fauré, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky/Balanchine)
    The Australian Ballet
    Opera Australia Orchestra
    Sydney Opera House
    May 2023
  • Played with such deft precision by Orchestra Victoria under the nimble baton of conductor Daniel Capps Simon Parris
    Obsidian Tear (Salonen/McGregor)
    Annealing (Marks/Topp)
    Everywhere We Go (Stevens/Peck)
    The Australian Ballet
    Orchestra Victoria
    Arts Centre Melbourne
    September 2022
  • Daniel Capps conducted the scores, whose dates of composition reached from 1774 to 1920, with equal flair at the David H. Koch Theater. Alastair Macaulay, New York Times
    Valses nobles et sentimentales
    La Valse (Ravel/Balanchine)
    Chaconne (Gluck/Balanchine)
    Donizetti Variations (Donizetti/Balanchine)
    New York City Ballet
    January 2015
  • Excellent playing from the orchestra in this tricky piece - all praise to young conductor Daniel Capps. GJ Dowler, Classical Music
    Agon (Stravinksy/Balanchine)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    November 2009
  • The best was yet to come: Violin Concerto was the performance of the afternoon. The orchestra, under the baton of Daniel Capps, played the Concerto in D with sparkle and wit. A performance of this caliber can only leave us hungry for more. Marina Harss, Dance Tabs
    Violin Concerto (Stravinsky/Balanchine)
    New York City Ballet
    March 2014
  • Daniel Capps deserves every commendation for guiding the orchestra Clement Crisp, Finanical Times
    DGV: Danse a grande vitesse (Nyman/Wheeldon)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    February 2009
  • Capps conducted Ballo della Regina with a suitably regal tone while maintaining just the right rhythm for dance. Mark Ronan
    Ballo della Regina (Verdi/Balanchine)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    May 2011
  • The Orchestra under maestro Daniel Capps played superbly. Lynne Lancaster, Sydney Arts Guide
    Obsidian Tear (Salonen/McGregor)
    Annealing (Marks/Topp)
    Everywhere We Go (Stevens/Peck)
    The Australian Ballet
    Opera Australia Orchestra
    Sydney Opera House
    November 2022
  • Daniel Capps conducted a high-spirited, lyrical performance David Dougill, Sunday Times
    La Fille mal Gardée
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    March 2010
  • This Christopher Wheeldon work, to music by Michael Nyman....was well conducted by Daniel Capps Mark Ronan
    DGV: Danse a grande vitesse (Nyman/Wheeldon)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    January 2009
  • A well-directed, forthright performance of Elgar's unsinkable Cockaigne, marked by the thrilling exuberance of the trombone section and mellifluous playing from the strings Christopher Webber, Musicweb International
  • Daniel Capps conducted with a suitably regal tone while maintaining a fine rhythm for dance, and this was a delight to watch.

    Mark Ronan
    Ballo della Regina (Verdi/Balanchine)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    May 2012
  • Daniel Capps conducted like a man leading a giddy and glorious birthday celebration, which indeed this was. Debra Craine, The Times
    La Fille mal Gardée
    50th anniversary performance
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    March 2010
  • The music was played superlatively by the Royal Opera House Orchestra, excitingly conducted by Daniel Capps GJ Dowler, Classical Source
    Ballo della Regina (Verdi/Balanchine)
    DGV: Danse a grande vitesse (Nyman/Wheeldon)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    May 2011
  • Daniel Capps conducted the music with lyrical energy.

    Mark Ronan
    Chroma (Talbot/McGregor)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    May 2010
  • The Orchestra under maestro Daniel Capps was in excellent form.

    Lynne Lancaster
    Jewels (Fauré, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky/Balanchine)
    The Australian Ballet
    Opera Australia Orchestra
    Sydney Opera House
    May 2023
  • Excitingly conducted by Daniel Capps, the orchestra sounded engaged and on top form GJ Dowler, Classical Source
    Ballo della Regina (Verdi/Balanchine)
    DGV: Danse a grande vitesse (Nyman/Wheeldon)
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    May 2011
  • Prokofiev's music sounded wonderful under the direction of Daniel Capps.

    Mark Ronan
    Rushes
    Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
    February 2010
  • Salonen’s orchestral poem Nyx, magnetically delivered by the OAO and guest conductor Daniel Capps

    Deborah Jones
    Obsidian Tear (Salonen/McGregor)
    The Australian Ballet
    Opera Australia Orchestra
    Sydney Opera House
    November 2022