Colin Davis

Sir Colin Davis (b. 1927) is the United Kingdom's pre-emiment living conductor. He initially studied clarinet before deciding to become a conductor, working for the likes of Sadler's Wells opera, the Royal Festival Hall and Covent Garden where he was principal conductor from 1971 to 1987. In 1995 he was appointed to the post of principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra which he held until 2006. Davis's performances with the orchestra are prominently featured on the LSO Live label.

Davis's repertoire is vast but he is particularly known for his Berlioz (he is the leading expert on the composer), Sibelius and Mozart. Davis has also been an advocate for British twentieth music, especially that of Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippett, of whose operas he was closely involved with. Apart from LSO Live he has also been recorded by EMI, Philips and RCA.

Key Works: Beethoven: Symphony No. 7, Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, Requiem, Les Troyens, Britten: Peter Grimes, Dvorak: Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 & 9, Elgar: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2, Mozart: Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflöte, Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 7, Tippett: The Rose Lake, The Knot Garden