Cristian Mandeal is Principal Conductor of the Cluj-Napoca (Transylvania) Philharmonic (since 2023/24). He previously served as General Music Director and Principal Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic, Bucharest (1987–2010), Artistic Director of the Euskadi Symphony (2001–08), and Principal Guest with the Hallé, Copenhagen Philharmonic and Belgrade Philharmonic. He founded and directs the Romanian Youth Orchestra(since 2008) and the Royal Youth Orchestra of the Transylvania State Philharmonic (since 2024).

He has led most Romanian orchestras and many leading international ensembles (e.g. London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Dresden, Bavarian Radio SO, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic), appearing at festivals such as Edinburgh, Prague Spring, Quincena Musical and Tokyo Spring. Collaborations include Radu Lupu, Krystian Zimerman, Vadim Repin, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Leonidas Kavakos and Yefim Bronfman.

A devoted advocate of George Enescu, he introduced Oedipe to UK (2002) and Italy (2005) and has presided over the Enescu Society of London since 2008. His 80-plus recordings include the complete orchestral works of Brahms and Enescu and acclaimed Bruckner performances. Educated in Bucharest, he later studied with Herbert von Karajan and Sergiu Celibidache.