Alun Francis, born on September 29, 1943, is a Welsh conductor known for his extensive career in classical music. He began as principal conductor of the Ulster Orchestra from 1966 to 1976 and conducted the premiere of Donizetti's opera Gabriella di Vergy at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1978. From 1979 to 1985, he served as music director of the Northwest Chamber Orchestra in Seattle. He was Generalmusikdirektor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie from 1987 to 1990 and subsequently conducted notable orchestras such as the Haydn-Orchester in Bolzano and the Berliner Symphoniker. From 2003 to 2008, he was principal conductor of the Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha. His discography includes works by Francis Poulenc and symphonies by Otto Klemperer. In 2000, he received the first prize at the Cannes Classical Award for his recording of Darius Milhaud's complete symphonies with the Sinfonieorchester Basel.
