Deep sadness as BBC conductor dies of cancer
RIPThe much-loved conductor Bramwell Tovey died today of sarcoma at the age of 69.
Bram, as he was known to musicians and friends, had been grappling with the condition for three years.
He was, among other positions, principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra and the Rhode Island Island Philharmonic.
Before that, he was music director in Winnipeg and Vancouver. He was a man of profound musicality and no visible vanity.
UPDATE: Tributes have been led by the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the LA Phil, all of which he conducted every year. He was one of music’s quiet heroes, irreplaceable.
Such a big loss. Fine, unpretentious, conductor. I always looked forward to hearing his concerts in the Hollywood Bowl or Vail. Never made it to Vancouver, my loss. RIP.
Awful news. My sincerest condolences. The music profession needs more people like Bramwell Tovey, who just got on with doing a superb job. He did more to spread the love of our incomparable canon than any random sackful of incompetent, floppy-haired ‘maestri’ have ever been able to.
Let’s remember also his implication for new music, he co-founded the Winnipeg New Music Festival in 1991 with the Winnipeg orchestra playing, choosing so many wonderful expressive works ! A delight for many years. And he composed interesting and beautiful works in a let’s say post-tonal style.
I’m very sorry to hear that. He had become a frequent guest – often for special holiday concerts – in Philadelphia in recent years.
New York as well. May he rest in peace.
Yes, I last heard him in Philadelphia with that orchestra and ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ which once was ubiquitous on TV during Christmastime in my youth.
May he rest in peace. He will be missed.
A Cancerian – born 11 July. The full moon in the opposite sign to Cancer, Capricorn, took him.
Seriously?
We in Sarasota had been so excited that he had agreed to lead our orchestra. A tremendous loss for his family, his friends, and for us.
Among his most important legacy is the series of french rarities he recorded for the Timpani label, such as Jean Cras’ opera Polypheme.
RIP.
What a loss. His debut at Tanglewood in 2011 in a complete Porgy that was astonishingly polished in just 2 rehearsals was something to behold. That he was a tremendously modest and friendly person to one and all cemented my total admiration for him.
It reminds of what Mark Twain wrote, that we should all try to live so that when we die, even the undertaker will be sorry.
He was that kind of person.
He was a deeply kind and warm and generous man. And a very special conductor – that very rare one who has a conception of every note and yet knows how to communicate and shape and also allow for freedom and spontaneity. I feel so blessed to have played under him in the RI Phil, only sad his tenure there was cut so tragically short. RIP.
Heard him direct a magnificent performance of Holst’s The Planets with the RI Phil. A treasure in RI who will be missed.
Bram was a consummate musician and a wonderful, humble person. Unassuming and approachable. He was a fabulous conductor, pianist, and educator whose musical beginnings were in British brass bands. I had the great privilege of playing for him in both orchestral and brass band contexts and will miss him greatly.
Bramwell Tovey conducted concerts in which the NY Phil hosted the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. These were wonderful performances, ones in which he showed himself to be a terrific jazz pianist. His commentary also added much to these concerts. He will be greatly missed. RIP.
Deeply saddening news. I had the pleasure of working with Maestro Tovey often over the years, and always admired his energy and good cheer (he was never NOT smiling!). He graced so many with his incredible communication from the podium. A widely loved musician (wonderful pianist, too) who will be remembered with great affection.
Very sorry to see this.
As a human, very supportive of all musicians’ efforts to do well.
As a musician, he knew what he knew, was comfortable with that knowledge and was a pleasure to work within his wide ranging repertoire and no-nonsense approach to rehearsal and performance.
I am really sorry to think I will never meet him again.
Bram was a wonderful person ,a inspirational conductor and a great friend to brass bands . He had a personality that was quite rare in music- he was well liked , respected and very gifted . He was also a skilled composer and pianist . He shall be missed .
I heard him conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra in Watford, UK. His erudite and witty introductions to the pieces being played were great fun.
Very sad news and a great loss to the music profession. One of my artists worked with him recently and he was such a pleasure to work with – a musicians conductor, doing a great job without all the unnecessary vanity. All thoughts with his family and friends.
Tovey was scheduled to conductor (as he did every summer) the Tchaikovsky Spectacular concert at Hollywood Bowl. Here is the updated program — https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/1739/2022-08-13/tchaikovsky-spectacular-with-fireworks
Will miss his warm presence and British humour. At last summer’s concert he mentioned “beating the illness” but I guess it relapsed. RIP
As others have said, he was a conductor of considerable ability, personable and jovial off the platform, hugely underappreciated by many (but not by those that worked with him internationally). A huge loss, RIP.
This is very sad news.
So so sad- one of the most beautiful people in music. By the way, not a word on the BBC!
Petroc Trelawny mentioned it in his breakfast programme today, and played one of Tovey’s recordings.
There’s actually a warm BBC tribute at https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/statements/tributes-to-bramwell-tovey including paragraphs by both Alan Davey (controller BBC R3) and Bill Chandler (director BBC Concert Orchestra), dated yesterday (13 July).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/statements/tributes-to-bramwell-tovey
Very sad news. I loved his concerts every year in NYC with the Philharmonic.
He was widely loved in the Canadian arts community and many will mourn his loss — which WAS noted on the CBC website. RIP.
How sad. I heard him back in 2000 when he subbed at the last minute at the Vancouver Symphony – in Bruckner 8. It was a fabulous performance and to my knowledge is what led to his being engaged as music director. I only saw him in concert one other time (playing Rhapsody in Blue; good piano chops), also in Vancouver.
Always struck me as a wonderful musician and an interesting character.
…”one of music’s quiet heros” is so fitting for Bramwell. He was a man of integrity and conviction. My admiration for him grew with each occasion we were together.
Little addition to the article. Bram was also Acting artistic Director of Québec City Symphony Orchestra, while the orchestra search for a regular director
Wow, how awfully sad. Anyone know where we could send condolences to his family? He loved them so much!
Devastating news. A dear old friend. I knew Bram well from the late 70s when he came to South Africa as a young guest conductor from London Festival Ballet. We toured the Zulu and Anglo-Boer battlefields together, paid homage to the fallen from all sides but also laughed a lot, drank a lot, we were young then! I then stayed with him in London for nearly a year in 1987 while doing my fellowship. Kind, generous, witty. I will always remember memorable evenings with him entertaining us at the grand piano that took pride of place in his front room. Taken far too soon by that dreadful disease. Thanks Bram for those unforgettable years.
A great loss of another excellent but unflamboyant musician. As Bram goes, I wish for more like him.
The grief here in Vancouver is immeasurable.. Our conductor for 18 years, he transformed the musical landscape of the city & the VSO school bears his name. Brilliant musician, hilariously funny & a warmth that encompassed everyone – all were bereft when he hailed off to emeritus status. Now, there will be many memorials & CBC will be featuring him non-stop for the next while. So very sad..
A week with Bramwell conducting was always one where the music making was good, the work was efficient and without drama, and laughter was enjoyed by everyone. Orchestral musicians looked forward to his appearances! He will be greatly missed.
Fine conductor who did a lot of unfamiliar repertoire. R.I.P.
He brightened the holiday time here at the NY Phil for many years. Always both fun and a pleasure to attend his concerts.
A splendid musician and colleague. A very sad loss.
What a loss this is. Bram was very, very special.
Tovey reminded me of maestro Nello Santi in the operatic world – always jovial, personable, dependable, loved by musicians and under-appreciated by management.