“Leo McFall, another first timer with the company, conducts a lovingly shaped performance from the ENO orchestra, bringing out details in this score you don’t often hear”
Erica Jeal | The Guardian
Leo McFall brings a dynamic and engaging presence to European orchestras as Principal Conductor of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg, and, as of the 2024/2025 season, Chief Conductor of the Staatsorchester Wiesbaden.
With a strong connection to the Alma Mahler Kammerorchester—an ensemble of top emerging talents from Europe’s leading orchestras—Leo has crafted a distinctive musical voice that resonates widely.
In recent seasons, Leo has captivated audiences and critics alike through performances with orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Lyon, and the Belgrade Philharmonic. His acclaimed recording of Emilie Mayer’s early symphonies not only won the 2021 Opus Klassik award for Best 18th Century Symphonic Recording but was also highlighted in the New York Times’ “Best Classical Recordings of 2020.”
Leo’s operatic achievements are equally impressive, with performances for English National Opera (La Traviata), Glyndebourne Festival (Vanessa, Cosi fan tutte, Don Giovanni), and Opera North (The Turn of the Screw), to name a few. His depth of experience includes his foundational role as Erste Kapellmeister at the Staatstheater Meiningen, where he led repertoire from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde to Tannhäuser. Leo’s early career featured extensive work with Bernard Haitink, assisting him on major projects with renowned ensembles like the Royal Concertgebouw and Chicago Symphony.
As both a pianist and violist, Leo refined his conducting skills at the Sibelius Academy and under Johannes Schlaefli in Zürich, culminating in his win of the prestigious Deutsche Dirigentenpreis (German Conducting Prize) in 2015. Leo McFall is an artist whose innovative approach and collaborative spirit make him a sought-after conductor across Europe’s music landscape.
