Sir Colin Davis

Sir Colin Rex Davis was an English conductor who will be forever remembered for his signifiant influence on the English classical music scene, particularly during his time spent at Covent Garden Opera House and with the London Symphony Orchestra. With over 300 albums to his credit he left behind a fine legacy of recorded work and he is regarded as one of the best conductors to emerge from Britain. He was born in Weybridge, Surrey and privately educated at Christ's Hospital in Sussex before continuing with his musical education at London's Royal College of Music where he studied clarinet under Frederick Thurston. He left college at a time when national service was still in force and he served as a clarinettist in the band of the Life Guards.

His first major professional appointment was as assistant conductor of the BBC Scottish Orchestra, a post he had previously been rejected for on two occasions. After gaining valuable experience with the BBC Davis developed a reputation as one of the UK's most promising young conductors, favourably compared to Sir Thomas Beecham. Always a stickler for detail, Davis had a reputation for being a fierce taskmaster during rehearsals and musicians feared his notoriously short fuse.

After a distinguished career which included conducting the Bavarian Radio Symphony as well as the London Symphony Orchestra, Davis received a knighthood for his services to music. He continued performing right up until his death in 2013 at the age of 85.