One of today’s most recognized and acclaimed conductors, Sir Andrew Davis has enjoyed a career that spans more than 50 years. During that time, he has been the musical and artistic director at several of the world’s most distinguished opera and symphonic institutions, including Lyric Opera of Chicago (music director emeritus and principal conductor, 2000-2021), BBC Symphony Orchestra (chief conductor, 1989-2000, now conductor laureate), Glyndebourne Festival Opera (music director, 1988-2000), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (chief conductor 2013-2019, now conductor laureate) and Toronto Symphony Orchestra (principal conductor, 1975-88, now conductor laureate). He also holds the honorary title of conductor emeritus from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Maestro Davis has performed at many of the world’s important opera houses, among them, the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Bayreuth Festival and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and appeared with virtually every internationally prominent orchestra, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris and all the major British orchestras.
A vast and award-winning discography documents the artistry of Sir Andrew; his recordings include the works of Berlioz, Berg, Bliss, Elgar (winner of the 2018 Diapason d’Or de l’Année in the category of musique symphonique), Finzi, Grainger, Delius, Ives, Holst, Handel (nominated for a 2018 Grammy for best choral performance) and York Bowen (nominated for a 2012 Grammy for best orchestral performance). His lauded recordings with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus celebrating British composers were recently released as a 16-CD retrospective collection. He now records for Chandos Records, for which he has been an exclusive artist since 2009.
Born in 1944, in Hertfordshire, England, Davis studied at King’s College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar before taking up conducting. His diverse repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary works and spans the symphonic, operatic and choral worlds. He is a champion of 20th-century music, including works by Janáček, Messiaen, Boulez, Elgar, Tippett, Britten and Vaughan Williams, in addition to the core symphonic and operatic works.
Holding the honorary position of president of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, Davis was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992, and in 1999, was designated a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honors List.
2023
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
