Sir Andrew Davis, a conductor who carried out with most of the world’s best orchestras, has died on the age of 80.
All through his lengthy profession Davis held many roles, together with for greater than a decade these of chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (BBCSO) and musical director of Glyndebourne Competition Opera.
Between 1988 and 2018 he led proceedings on the Final Night time of the Proms on 12 events, twice delivering the customary conductor speech within the method of the major-general in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance: “That is the very mannequin of a contemporary music competition.”
Amongst these to pay tribute to Davis on Sunday was the mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, who said she was saddened by the news.
“I can’t use the phrase ‘lifeless’ as a result of in my reminiscence he’s hearty and hale, self-deprecating and humble, sensible, humorous, super-sharp musically and I’m grateful the fates allowed us to work collectively.”
She added: “Sir Andrew’s want was to make issues simpler for his musicians and that takes nice kindness, a deep soul and no conceitedness. After I see unhealthy, imply behaviour from any conductor it appears pathetic, as a result of getting the most effective final result doesn’t require bullying or put downs.”
The cellist and music campaigner Julian Lloyd Webber said Davis was “a fantastic musician who was fantastic along with his soloists. I treasure the reminiscence of a beautiful Delius concerto in 2012 [with the Philharmonia Orchestra].”
The pianist Stephen Hough stated Davis was “a beautiful collaborator in concertos – the sharpest ear and clearest stick”.
Sakari Oramo, the chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, posted on X: “Remembering with best respect and admiration all the pieces Sir Andrew Davis did for music, and significantly for pricey BBCSO over many a long time. All the time with distinction and kindness.”
The orchestra described Davis as a “important pressure in British music for a lot of a long time and a good friend to us all. He will probably be drastically missed.”
The Royal Opera Home said Davis made his debut there in 1983, conducting Der Rosenkavalier.
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On X, the ROH stated: “We’re saddened to listen to of the demise of conductor Sir Andrew Davis. In a profession spanning over 5 a long time, he was the creative chief of a number of of the world’s most distinguished opera and symphonic establishments together with @BBCSO and @glyndebourne.”
Davis was born in 1944 and went to Watford grammar college for boys earlier than learning on the Royal Faculty of Music and King’s Faculty, Cambridge, the place he was an organ scholar.
His profession took him the world over, with Davis additionally main the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Davis died in Chicago on Saturday. In line with the Slipped Disc classical music web site, he had been recognized with leukaemia final yr.
