It is with great sadness that the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester learned of the passing away of Sir Colin Davis today. President of the London Symphony Orchestra and Honorary Conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin worked with the most important orchestras, opera houses and festivals of the world. In 2008 and 2011, he conducted two tour projects of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, appearing at the Salzburg and Lucerne Festivals, at the BBC Proms and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam - as well as at the Semperoper in Dresden, which marked the beginning of the partnership between the Staatskapelle Dresden and the GMJO.
Alexander Meraviglia-Crivelli, Secretary General of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester:
“On behalf of all former and actual musicians who had the privilege of rehearsing and performing with Sir Colin Davis as well as all members of our team who worked with him during our projects, the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester mourns the passing away of a great artist and human being.
Sir Colin was a dedicated, demanding and inspiring conductor, a great artist, and he was a rare example of a musician who deeply loved music and the musicians he was working with. For me personally, it was wonderful to work with him on our projects, to discuss repertoire and to simply spend time with him. I shall miss him very much. Our thoughts are with his daughters and his family.”
Photo credit: Matthias Creutziger