Sudden death of a much-loved English maestro

The outstanding conductor Sir Andrew Davis died yesterday in Chicago at the age of 80, his agent has confirmed. Andrew had been diagnosed last year with leukemia, which turned acute two months ago. He was coping well, but the end was sudden.

Andrew was a jovial, kindly man without an enemy in the world, always ready to help a musician in distress, an exemplary colleague.

Raised in Hertfordshire, his career flourished at the BBC Symphony Orchestra, where he was Chief Conductor 1989-2000, and at Glyndebourne Festival Opera (Music Director 1988-2000). Instantly recognizable in full beard and bow-tie, he appeared on television in every BBC Proms season and invariably on the Last Night.

Abroad, he was principal conductor of the Toronto Symphony (1975-88), the Melbourne Symphony (2013-2019) and Lyric Opera Chicago (2002-2021), always forming stable relationships, never flitting from one chimera to the next. Sensitive to singers and their special needs, he had a knack of resolving problems before they arose.

His repertoire was vast, from Bach to Birtwistle, and his competence enormous. I recall masterpieces being rehearsed without fuss or flummery and performances of quite deceptive power. Beethoven, Berg, Brahms, Britten, Elgar and everyone else were treated with respect and meticulous attention. Any nerves in rehearsal were dispatched with a joke.

After leaving the BBC, he moved to live in Chicago with his third wife Gianna Rolandi, an American soprano who died three years ago.

I last saw him conduct in Liverpool, where he held the title of Conductor Emeritus. After the concert, he was up for a drink at the Hope Street Hotel, full of bonhomie and chit-chat, a lovely, modest chap with brilliant timing and a searing love for the music he made.

Sir Andrew Davis, rest in peace, job well done.

More tributes here.

photo: Lyric Opera