Sudden death of a much-loved English maestro
RIPThe 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
Ohhh no……..
This is a shock and a sad day. Sir Andrew was a great musician and a warm and wonderful human being. I met him just a few months ago in Berlin and he seemed still in good shape. we will all miss him. Rest in peace Sir Andrew..
So sorry to read this!
Sir Andrew was indeed delightful to work with.
This is really sad news. I have so many happy memories of working with Sir Andrew in the 1990s at the BBC Proms. He was very hard-working, extremely knowledgeable and the kindest of colleagues. His many fine recordings form a superb legacy.
Time to listen to the second movement of his BBCSO Elgar 2 in his memory.
Who the hell gave this a thumbs down?
And not a word from the BBC on TV, radio or on-line news (haven’t listened to R3 today)… I despair. RIP Sir Andrew and thank you for the years of great performances you gave us.
It was the first item in the radio 3 news at midday today. very sad news.
Well, a classical music station, and I’m a Radio 4 listener and a Sky News watcher. So far, not a mention up to 11am when neither have been on. Perhaps they will catch up as the day goes on.
I heard on the mid day radio 4 news, still nothing on the website.
Yes, disgraceful.
Item on R4 1pm news.
I walked past him on the street last year during the Festival, smiled at him and he beamed back. He did look unwell then, compared to how he was on stage conducting the closing concert at the previous years Festival. The tributes from the many musicians online are testament to the very high regard in which he was held.
So finally at 15:07, something appears on the front page of UK News of the BBC Website. Nothing on delayed ‘lunchtime’ news on BBC One, taken up with the London Marathon, which was already being streamed..
It’s on the website.
This is very sad news. A very kind man. I was hoping to see him this autumn in Edinburgh, for his Capriccio.
Yes, In our last communication he said how well he remembered Capriccio and how passionate he was to be fit to conduct it again. Having been with him for the Glyndebourne performances (wife at the time) I am so sad that he won’t be in Edinburgh and send condolences to his son Ed.
A very sad day. I knew Andrew at Cambridge, and also at Glyndebourne, where I worked with him often. Although we haven’t met for a long time, my condolences to you, Felicity: as I know from experience, the death of a former spouse is very sad. Much love, Giles
Terrible. He was still going strong. R.I.P.
What a wonderful musician, what a marvellous legacy. R.I.P. dear Sir Andrew.
A lovely tribute, thank you. Truly a musician’s life fully lived and “job well done!”
This is very sad news, but I imagine that going quickly is preferable to a prolonged, but ultimately unsuccessful, battle.
Sir Andrew Davis was so dependable and reassuring.
Somehow he made you feel all was well, even though we know it isn’t.
Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
What a wonderful underrated conductor. A great Strauss interpreter. Heard him do Ariadne and Daphne. Nice man, too.
I loved Andrew. Very, very sad news. We will all miss him.
Thank you, Norman, for such a generous and heartfelt tribute.
This is so sad. A wonderful human being who brought that humanity to his music making.
So sad to hear this. One of the best, perhaps in the mould of Tod Handley. Indeed, a job well done.
A charming, kindly and approachable man. His Rosenkavalier at the ROH with Anna Tomowa-Sintow was one of the finest I ever heard. Perfectly paced. RIP, sir
Worked with him on and off for over 30 years. If there’s an orchestra in the afterlife I’d be more than happy with him on the box.
Very sad to hear this. Sir Andrew was a rather fine conductor and the loveliest person to work with. Had the pleasure of singing for him so many times, the last being Gerontius closing last year’s Edinburgh Festival. RIP Sir Andrew, the world has lost a true musician.
Who are the low lives giving a thumbs down to such a heartfelt tribute?
He was the first conductor I heard in Roy Thompson Hall. He was very well liked and admired in Toronto from all I ever heard. R.I.P.
Very sad news – and a lovely tribute. Davis was one of those few conductors I’d have been happy to listen to conduct anything. But of course he was so often so special in British music; that Teldec ‘British Line’ series from the 1990s (which ought to be reissued without delay!) contains, amongst many joys, what remains for me the best Elgar 2nd Symphony on disc. Chandos’s imminent release of a new version of A Child of Our Time will be all the more poignant now.
I heartily agree with all the above tributes. What kind of benighted moron(s) would downvote any of these?
Just one small point for the record. The statement claims that his condition ‘turned acute two months ago’. Acute does not mean ‘bad’ or ‘worse’; it means ‘sudden’ and often time-limited, with treatment. Sadly, that was not the case. As it was diagnosed some time ago, it could not have become acute; it was ‘chronic’.
Leukaemia consists of different types, including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (more common in children), hairy cell leukaemia, etc etc.
The chronic ones generally appear in older patients, stay present in the body but do not kill the patient for many years, even decades. However, in some cases, the chronic leukaemias can also change over time, with malignant cells that belong to the acute type gradually appearing and multiplying, causing severe complications and imminent death- and in patients over 70 often do not have a successful outcome despite any kind of treatment. Doctors call the process of the chronic leukaemia changing to a more deadly acute leukaemia transformation. Without having the actual medical records to see (obviously) that’s most likely what Sir Andrew’s agent meant when the leukaemia was described as turning acute- it had transformed.
Very sad to lose an outstanding conductor and inspiring professional like Sir Andrew Davis, but grateful for all the wonderful concerts we have enjoyed and the many brilliant musicians he has inspired and taught.
As far as I know- he didn’t teach conducting? Maybe he didn’t want to or thought it impossible to teach.
The closest synonym for acute is severe, so it is used correctly here.
https://www.bruceduffie.com/davis.html
Two interviews that I transcribed between Bruce Duffie – formerly WNIB in Chicago – and Andrew. Such terribly sad news and getting that diagnosis so soon after the death of his wife and the following grief that brought. I was just hoping he’d be brought back once more to do the Last Night of the Proms. He fully understood the tradition, that quirky British culture and humour like no other since – that many others seem to miss as not being politically correct. Andrew will be greatly missed.
Performed Tippett A Child of our Time under his direction in Edinburgh last year. A memorable occasion.
RIP Sir.
Nothing I can find on the BBC website…. yet, at least.
I saw it there immediately after seeing this, on Sunday morning.
The Ariadne he conducted at the Met with Norman surpassed her performances with Levine and Masur. He always reminded me of Beecham in his ability to charm. Over the years, I always sought out chances to hear him and I was never disappointed.
This should be a reminder to get your boosters, covid isn’t over. RIP Maestro! You will be missed
Sir Andrew was the most marvellous communicator – both with his musicians and his audiences. He just so loved his music, and his love was absolutely palpable … he was a delight to be with!
My wife and I had the privilege of attending very many performances conducted by Sir Andrew, particularly at Glyndebourne and at the ROH, Covent Garden. We were never ever disappointed. It was music making at its very best. Thoughtful, understated, and always profound. To the best of my knowledge, he never adopted the Vietnamese peasant look. He always kitted himself in the same way as the male musicians of the ensembles he was leading. If the men were wearing white dinner jackets, so was he. If they were wearing evening dress, so was he. Etc., etc. It may seem trivial, but it came across as a mark of respect, which is how he will be, rightfully, remembered by many, myself included. As a humble, but profoundly committed artist.
May he Rest in Peace. I attended some of his concerts when I lived in Toronto. Those were the glory days of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. I remember a performance of Strauss’ Symphonia Domestica that was particularly beautiful.
I know him only from records and video, of opera and concert. He was one of my favorites. The person whom his intimates lament shines through his music.
Intensely moving RVW 5, and with a German orchestra that likely was new to this music. RIP.
https://youtu.be/LsQGFlcqUmA?si=8MZg95NbdZfsWFga
Absolutely agree. Such depth of sound and emotion… what orchestral playing, coaxed out by a complete understanding of this masterpiece. The only performance to watch.
You are so right! This is indeed a very special and moving performance of VW 5!
A personal loss for you Norman. I’m sorry on your account and for the world of music to which he contributed so much.
I have very vivid memories of Sir Andrew Davies conducting final performance of “Capriccio” in San Francisco (circa 1993). Why so vivid? Because the orchestra suddenly sounded alive and full of passion from the opening sextet onward; whereas on the previous nights Donald Runnicle’s orchestra sounded like they were merely sightreading.
Bravo maestro!
His love of Mozart was obvious and I remember especially fondly the excellent Figaro he conducted.
Sad news. A capable conductor- Very fine in English music (particularly first class Elgarian) & effective in the opera pit- where he did some of his best work (Richard Strauss & an underrated Wagnerian). His career took a meteoric rise as a relatively young man in Canada during the 70’s with The Toronto symphony- where he was hailed as the next conducting Wunderkind (not just British). After that- a bit of a downward trajectory in all honesty. Some good work with the BBCSO- but a helluva of routine ‘so so’ performances of the central Germanic repertoire at The Proms- in which he was getting too much work 7 the musicianship suffered. Not really helped by his deranged Major General routine at The Last Night- which funnily enough- reflected his own real personality. On several brief encounters- perfectly affable on the surface- but beyond this- rather insincere, superficial & self seeking personality (of course- which conductor is any different to AD). For all this- a worthy & notable life in music & a lasting legacy in terms of recording (a first class Elgar Enigma for one).
Many fond memories of excellent nights at the opera in Chicago, with him on the podium. He kept the standards there quite high and seems to have done it with a smile. That’s not as easy as it sounds.
The Immolation Scene with Gwyneth Jones, which Norman posted above, is a great piece of music making from all concerned and a personal favorite performance of mine.
He was the kind of conductor who was easy to take for granted, perhaps, but whose influence you miss when they’re not around.
And … can I add that I respected him for never growing his hair out in a Beethoven-y mop. That alone says something about his commitment to the music itself and not to image or flash.
RIP.
I had the good fortune to play under him a number of times. I wish there were more conductors like him. He was extremely competent, of course, but what I appreciated most was he was very collegial. Playing under him was always very comfortable. I am saddened by this news and send condolences to his family and friends.
I urge everyone to qatch on YouTube the great maestro conducting Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Symphony with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra back in 2016. A truly sublime (benchmark) performance and wondrous conducting.
Any comparison with another famous English conductor of a similar vintage – also a Knight – is telling is it not?
I wonder what his tributes will be…..if any?
RIP Andrew Davis.
A great loss. When working for Capitol/EMI in the US, I set up the Messiah and the Planets in Toronto in 1985. Andrew was just so easy to work with and uncomplicated, while after the sessions, the dinners were always hilarious with him. RIP.
John Pattrick (not Pattrck)
What a loss to music. I’ve planned a trip to Cincinnati next December when Sir Andrew was going to conduct Messiah in his new, modernized arrangement. I hope the CSO will not change the program, but I really wanted to hear it with Davis. I think tonight’s listening session will have to be his Elgar 2 and Enigma Variations on Teldec.
The first comment in this thread eclipsed my own same sentiment. When we lose anyone I am reminded of John Donne’s indispensable poem Death Be Not Proud and For Whom The Bell Tolls as anyone’s death diminishes me.
Sir Andrew’s recent recordings of Stravinsky were most impressive.
I will always remember a cracking performance of Peter Grimes at Glyndebourne. The advertised conductor had had to withdraw, and Andrew Davis was recalled from holiday to conduct at short notice. When this was announced there was tumultuous applause – much of it from the orchestra pit.
I’m so very saddened to hear this news. I first heard and saw Andrew Davis at the BBC Proms in 1978 conducting Mahler’s 5th Symphony with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. As a young musician I managed to find my way to the Conductor’s Dressing Room, as you could do so easily as a concertgoer in those days, and found him wonderful to talk to on that occasion, before meeting up with Alan Civil, my second cousin, and John Wilbraham. I followed his conducting career ever since that occasion and, over the following years, witnessed many very moving performances under his direction, including Mahler 2, Britten’s War Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius at the BBC Proms and some immensely moving Elgar concerts with the Philharmonia at the South Bank in 2007. Most recently, two profoundly-moving Edinburgh Festival performances will live long in the memory, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius in 2022 and Tippett’s A Child of Our Time in 2023. After the 2022 Elgar The Dream performance, I made my way to the Stage Door to join a small queue of folk waiting to speak to Sir Andrew. When he eventually appeared outside he was so typically generous with his time and seemed to welcome the opportunity to talk to his ‘fans’. I’d taken over an emptied CD box of his BBCSO Elgar recordings and, armed with my Concert programme, asked if he would sign them, which he did so graciously. On presenting him with the emptied CD box, I said to him, ‘Don’t worry, I’ve still got the CDs.’ I can still hear his laugh now.
RIP Sir Andrew and thank you for so many wonderful performances, recordings, and personal memories. Condolences go to his family and close friends.
We have lost a wonderful professional colleague of incredible talent who was able to befriend other high quality musicians whilst exerting a quiet authority through patience, intellect and humour.
Little mention is made of his keyboard exploits. As Cambridge students I remember fondly the time we performed together the Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, and at a later date took our exploits a stage further when sharing the podium: I conducted the first half in which he gave a superb account of the Schumann Piano Concerto; then we switched roles and I butchered the Shostakovich 2nd Piano Concerto. I night to remember.
RIP dear friend.
Along with others who have commented on the BBCs omission in mentioning the death of Sir Andrew on their News coverage today (21/04/2024), I find it utterly disgusting. I have emailed them with my thoughts.
It’s here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68869153
I have so many CDs conducted by Davis, all of which I cherish.
I’ve listened to the Vaughan Williams cycle he did with BBCSO (Teldec) so many times and I’m going to do it again now.
Very, very sorry to hear of his passing. First saw him conduct at a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic concert conducting an amazingly energetic performance of Bizet’s Symphony in C, followed by William Walton conducting his own Belshazzar’s Feast. I next saw him a few years later conducting Hugh Wood’s ‘Scenes from Comus’ at the Royal Festival Hall. The two were great friends, and in the last few years of Hugh’s life, Sir Andrew brought Hugh’s ‘Comus’ back to the Albert Hall (where it had been premiered in 1965 by Norman Del Mar) as well as premiering his Epithalamion. He did similar service for Hugh’s Piano Concerto (which was hailed at its first performance with Joanna MacGregor as soloist but has since disappeared from view) and his Symphony (which has also fallen into obscurity.) Sir Andrew will be fondly remembered for many years to come by me and, I’m sure, by many others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4lGIlcBlq8
Quickly correct the typo! Her name was Gianna Rolandi z”l
It was my privilege to work with Andrew during my times with both the St. Louis Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra.
As many have stated, he was a fine musician and a wonderful and very funny gentleman . He made a positive difference wherever he performed.
I always enjoyed being there when Andrew Davis conducted a Last Night of the Proms. I keep finding myself remembering him accompanying Felicity Lott and Ann Murray in the “Cat Duet”. Just sheer enjoyment of music and an infectious joy in performing and sharing his passion.
https://basiaconfuoco.com/2022/11/12/sadness-fear-and-anger-in-morning-heroes-by-bliss/
Thank you for your warm tribute. He helped teach me as a fellow chorister at school in Watford that I was not a singer, but left me with a life long love of great music and similarly lovely musicians.
Sir Andrew’s first engagement in Toronto was as a stand-in after the untimely passing of Karel Ancerl to conduct the Glagolitic Mass — not most artists’ choice of a calling card, but I’ve never forgotten the thrilling energy of that concert. By the next year, he had become Artistic Director of the Toronto Symphony. Even after he moved on, and was named Conductor Laureate of the orchestra, he never missed a season, always making one or more appearances on the Toronto orchestra’s podium for a record fifty consecutive years. His death is a particularly heartbreaking loss for all of us who rejoiced in his musical gifts in Canada.