Sir Andrew Davis (1944-2024)

Schott Music remembers Sir Andrew Davis following his death on 20 April 2024 at the age of 80. 

Over a hugely successful international career, Sir Andrew shared his commitment to living composers by not only conducting numerous world premieres by composers such as Mark-Anthony Turnage, Anthony Gilbert, Ryan Wigglesworth and Sir Michael Tippett but also committing to the further support and sharing of adventurous programmes in presenting national premieres around the world of works by John Casken, Toru Takemitsu, Bernard Rands and even three UK premieres of works by Paul Hindemith with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers in 1995.

He was a great supporter and champion of Sir Michael Tippett, later becoming patron of the Michael Tippett Musical Foundation. Notable performances include the first UK performance of Tippett’s New Year at Glyndebourne in 1990, a work which in 2024 is now receiving revivals with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Birmingham Opera Company - with many of those involved now, also being associated with the Glyndebourne production at the time.  Sir Andrew’s last performance of Tippett’s music was The Rose Lake, one of Tippett’s final works, with the BBC Philharmonic; his new recording of A Child of Our Time with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus and soloists Pumeza Matchikiza, Dame Sarah Connolly, Joshua Stewart and Ashley Riches is due for release on Chandos next week on 3 May 2024 and he had included Tippett’s Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli with Toronto Symphony Orchestra for his programme with them in January 2025 as Conductor Laureate.