
Daniel Smith

Biography
Principal Guest Conductor of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa from 2017 to 2019, Daniel Smith has been awarded prizes in four of the most prestigious international conducting competitions, including: UNESCO International Conducting Competition, where he also received the 'Gold Baton' and 'Orchestra's Choice Prize', along with the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition.
Born in Australia and living in Italy, he is an Australian Cultural Ambassador. He studied at major institutions: the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Trinity College London, the University of Music in Bratislava, the Sydney Conservatory of Music and the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen.
Smith’s guest invitations include the Czech Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, the Warsaw National Philharmonic, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, the Belgrade Philharmonic, as well as at the Mozarteum Festspiele, the Estate Musicale Chigiana in Siena, the Aspen Music Festival and the Stars of the White Nights in St. Petersburg.
An acclaimed interpreter of contemporary repertoire, Daniel Smith has premiered Giorgio Battistelli's Ötzi, Nicola Campogrande's Symphony No. 1, Fazıl Say's Flute Concerto, John Adams' Violin Concerto, John Williams' Battle of Heroes (Star Wars: Episode III) and the new critical edition of Bedřich Smetana's Má vlast.
He also has an intense activity as an opera conductor, specialising in bel canto and the Italian opera repertoire after winning the Mancinelli International Opera Conducting Competition. After a valuable collaboration with director Franco Zeffirelli and more recently with director Damiano Michieletto, he conducted Rossini's Il viaggio a Reims at the Rossini Opera Festival, Mariinsky Theatre and Opera Australia. He subsequently worked in new productions with Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Teatro San Carlo, Norwegian National Opera, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Greek National Opera.
He was appointed Honorary Life Fellow of Paganini and honorary artist of PWM (Polish Music Publishing House) and DSCH (Shostakovich). An advocate of Australian and indigenous music, he performs in duo with Australia's leading didgeridoo virtuoso, William Barton, combining didgeridoo and orchestra.
He is also involved in educational projects to promote, encourage and share his passion with younger people. He created the charity “The Daniel Smith Gift of Music Foundation”: reflecting his philosophy that music is everyone's right, Smith donates concert tickets to those with financial or physical difficulties.
Video gallery
Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé - 2. Suite
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Carl Maria von Weber: Euryanthe – Ouvertüre
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Skoryk, Rossini, Paganini, Bach
PFB Symphony Orchestra
MOZART Symphony No.41, K.551, C major (Jupiter)
The Project TV: Maestro Daniel Smith
Opera Australia 2025 Review: The Barber of Seville
Conductor Daniel Smith, conjured a nimble reading from the Opera Australia Orchestra. Smith is something of a specialist in Rossini and we had the opportunity to focus on his musical interpretation of the work in an overture that was strikingly opinionated. Scurrying statements and coquettish answering phrases to begin with, ominous 'drumming' under the wonderfully-floating oboe melody that grows out of that opening - these spoke to an interpretive variety that enhanced so much of the humour of the work. There was thrillingly clean articulation in the wonderful coda. The overall impression from this opener - the word jotted down in the dark - was "joyous". An audience-member could certainly come away from this performance with a smile on their face.
Brilliantly enjoyable Barber of Seville in Sydney
5 stars review
The Opera Australia Orchestra was conducted on this occasion by Australian born but Italy based Daniel Smith; the overture was played at quite a fast tempo but with pinpoint accuracy and especially beguiling stings. I don’t think I have ever heard such rapturous applause for an overture at an opera performance and this momentum was maintained throughout.
The Barber of Seville (Opera Australia)
From the opening fanfare of the overture, the contrasting staccato of the strings and legato response from the woodwinds, conductor Daniel Smith has us in the palm of his hand, resurrecting the magic that emanated from the same pit 45 years ago, when the late great Stuart Challender conducted the first Barber this writer saw. Smith’s conducting may be animated, but it’s never rushed. He patiently lets the energy build, teasing us as the music swells, only to pull it back and leave us hanging on the edge of our seats. His dynamic control never wavers, guiding us to an exhilarating ‘Rossini crescendo’ that has the audience cheering loudly. It is the longest applause for an overture I can recall in this house, and it is thoroughly deserved.
Don Giovanni da Leone
Photo gallery







Representation