London Symphony Orchestra LSO Live
and the Gramophone Award for Best Opera for the highly successful recording of Berlioz's Les T
royens [LSO0010] and the Best Opera
Grammy Award in 2006 for Verdi's Falstaff [LSO0528]. Regarded as one of the greatest interpreters of Berlioz by critics and fans alike, he
also championed the music of Mozart, Sibelius, Elgar, Dvořák, and more recently, Nielsen.
Sir Colin's final collaboration with the LSO was the performance of
Berlioz’s Grande Messe des mortsat St Paul's Cathedral in June 2012. Opening the City of London Festival, this memorable performance and resulting recording [LSO0729] has been met with much praise. “This, his last-ever Berlioz recording, demonstrates yet again his unique empathy with and understanding of Berlioz’s music as well as his authority in conducting it.” wrote John Quinn for Music Web International.
Even in his later years Sir Colin Davis was never shy of a challenge. At the age of 82 he embraced the task of performing and recording the symphonies of Carl Nielsen, previously unknown territory for the conductor. “The great British maestro brings the expansiveness and rigour of his celebrated Sibelius to two of the Danish composer’s most frequently heard symphonies” said Hugh Canning from Th Times of Symphonies 4 & 5 [LSO0694].
New Zealand-born tenor Simon O'Neill, who sung the part of Max on the recording of Weber's Der Freisch
utz in April 2012, spoke at the
time of his joy in working with Sir Colin: “It’s a real honour to work with Sir Colin, a real honour. He’s been there, done that, he’s conducted the greatest in the world, and it’s an honour to be on stage with him.” American soprano Christine Brewer, singing the part of Agathe, praised his infectious enthusiasm: “There's such a joy about the way Colin approaches music; you can see it in his face and in his body. Every time he's conducting it feels to me as if it's the first time he's heard it, and there's an excitement in that that transfers to the orchestra and singers as well.” LSO Live producer James Mallinson sums up perfectly Sir Colin’s legacy: “Sir Colin was a fine musician, a great colleague and an inspirational leader. He had the rare ability to both guide a performance and free the creative potential of the players he was working with. Over twelve years of recording with him for LSO Live, I don't recall him ever telling a player what to do. He would explain what he was trying to achieve and then leave it to the players to find a way of combining his ideas with their own. This ability to both lead and follow is very rare in my experience. He will be greatly missed.” The closing concerts of the 2012/13 Barbican season, which Sir Colin was due to conduct, will now form a tribute to the former Principal Conductor. All the music and artists featured have a close resonance with Sir Colin. On 16th & 18th June, Joseph Wolfe, Sir Colin's son, will conduct his father's beloved Berlioz and Nikolaj Znaider will play Mozart's Third Violin Concerto – one of Sir Colin's favourite and a work they planned to perform together. There will also be a BBC Prom tribute conducted by Daniel Harding on 20th August – Prom 51. The programme, originally devised for Sir Colin to lead, will feature Elgar's Symphony No. 2 and works by Tippett and Britten.
Some key recordings by Sir Colin Davis recorded in the Barbican Hall, available in the Barbican Shop: LSO0001 Dvorák: Symphony No 9 [released September 2000] LSO0010 Berlioz: Les Troyens [released July 2001] LSO0191 Sibelius: Symphonies Nos 1–9 [released October 2009] LSO0029 Holst: The Planets [released June 2003] LSO0694 Nielsen: Symphonies Nos 4 & 5 [released February 2011] LSO0726 Weber: Der Freischütz [released May 2013]
Sir Colin Davis London Symphony Orchestra
Enjoy the Barbican’s Resident Orchestra at home – recordings available at the Barbican Shop
e Sunday
Visit iTunes to download high quality Mastered for iTunes files. To view the complete LSO Live catalogue or order online visit
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SACD LSO0722
2SACD LSO0729
2SACD LSO0726
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