Sir Colin Rex Davis, CH, CBE (25 September 1927 – 14 April 2013) was an English conductor best known for his association with the London Symphony Orchestra, having first conducted it in 1959. His repertoire was broad, but among the composers with whom he was particularly associated were Mozart, Berlioz, Elgar, Sibelius, Stravinsky and Tippett.He studied as a clarinettist, but was intent on becoming a conductor. After struggles as a freelance conductor from 1949 to 1957, he gained a series of appointments with orchestras including the BBC Scottish Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He also held the musical directorships of Sadler's Wells Opera and the Royal Opera House, where he was principal conductor for over fifteen years. His guest conductorships included the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and the Staatskapelle Dresden, among many others.As a teacher, Davis held posts at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber (conservatory) in Dresden. He made his first gramophone recordings in 1958, and his discography over the next five decades was extensive, with a large number of studio recordings for Philips Records and a substantial catalogue of live recordings for the London Symphony Orchestra's own label.
He began his conducting career as assistant conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 1957. He got his big break in 1959, when Otto Klemperer fell ill and Davis took his place at the Royal Festival Hall to conduct a concert performance of Mozart's "Don Giovanni", with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
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He was the fifth of seven children. His father was a bank clerk. The family didn't have a piano, but did have a gramophone and a collection of classical music records to which young Davis listened avidly.
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He won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, but since he couldn't play the piano, he was not allowed to take the conducting class. Instead, he spent 10 years as a clarinet player (part of that time in the band of the Household Cavalry), and as a struggling freelance conductor.
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He was awarded the CH (Companion of Honour) in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to to Music. He was Principal Conductor at the London Symphony Orchestra.
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He was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1965 and awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in 1980 for his services to music.
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Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (1967-1971).
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Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1973-1983).
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Conductor of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (1971-1987).
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He is currently (2006) conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.
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He is a specialist in the music of Hector Berlioz. He made the first full-length recording of Berlioz's extremely long opera, "Les Troyens", starring Jon Vickers as Aeneas.
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He is the first British conductor to conduct at Bayreuth.
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English conductor and clarinettist, his video films include "The Turn of the Screw."
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hansel and Gretel
2008
TV Movie conductor
The Magic Flute
2003
TV Movie conductor
Ariadne auf Naxos
2000
TV Movie conductor - as Sir Colin Davis
Great Composers
1997
TV Series documentary conductor - 1 episode
Werther
1986
conductor
Der Rosenkönig
1986
conductor: "Ruhe sanft, mein holdes leben"
Le martyre de Saint Sébastien
1984
TV Movie conductor - as Sir Colin Davis
The Turn of the Screw
1982
TV Movie conductor
Peter Grimes
1981
TV Movie conductor
Samson et Dalila
1981/II
TV Movie conductor
Tannhäuser
1978
TV Movie conductor - as Sir Colin Davis
Music on 2
1971
TV Series conductor - 1 episode
The Boy David
1957
TV Movie orchestra conducted by
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change
2016
Documentary performer: "The Planets, Op.32, Mars, the Bringer of War"
Ash vs Evil Dead
2015
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Tree of Life
2011
performer: "Domine Jesu Christe [Requiem Op. 5 Grande Messe des Morts]", "Agnus Dei [Requiem, Op. 5 Grande Messe des Morts]" - as Sir Colin Davis
Melinda and Melinda
2004
"Concerto in D for String Orchestra: 2-Arioso: Andantino" 1946
Ariadne auf Naxos
2000
TV Movie performer: "Ariadne auf Naxos"
Happiness
1998
performer: "Soave sia il vento from Cosi Fan Tutte" - as Sir Colin Davis
The Big Lebowski
1998
performer: "Pictures at an Exhibition" - as Sir Colin Davis
$9 Million
