I was going to write about books today and get back into the flow of posting, but when I opened my laptop this morning it was to see the very sad news that Sir Colin Davis, the conductor, had died. His beloved wife passed away a few years ago and it was clear that he missed her dreadfully and I felt that something had gone from him, the vital life force he always had was diminishing. The last time I saw him conduct was at a Prom, it was a performance of the Missa Solemnis, which I think is the most glorious choral work ever composed, bar none, and I mean none, and he was sitting down looking very frail. The he lifted his baton, caught the eye of the leader of the orchestra, and a wonderful smile lit up his face and then off we went. A glorious performance as always.
I have loved Sir Colin since I first saw him at the Proms about forty or more years ago. He took over from Sir Malcolm Sargeant, a difficult act to follow and he was pretty acerbic in those days about the antics of some of the Prommers and was not at first universally loved. But minds soon changed. I remember one magical night, it was a Friday night and Friday night was always Beethoven night in those days, Sir Colin conducting a performance of the Beethoven Emperor concerto, the soloist being Stephen Bishop. This concert has remained in my memory ever since as I was standing right down the front, leaning on the rail, and so close I could almost lean over and touch the podium. It was a sublime performance and the silence in the hall during the slow movement was palpable. Every now and then a performance you expect to be memorable suddenly transcends into something extra special. There is no explaining it. Mark Elder once discussed this during an interview and said there is no reason for it, but 'you raise your baton and suddenly you know this is going to be one of those times. The orchestra know it, I know it, the audience knows it and when it happens it is quite wonderful'. I have been fortunate to have attened performances when this has happened and it is a feeling impossible to describe, and this particular night was one of them.
I have to mention the time that Patrick and I went to the Royal Festival Hall to hear Sir Colin conduct the Missa Solemnis. I had recently sung in a few performances and had spent months learning the music and it had entered my soul. I was seven months pregnant with Kathryn and I remember resting my score on my bump as I followed the music. At the end of the Gloria when the choir let out the most stunning GLORIA and it crashed to an end, Kathryn kicked violently as she felt the sound and my score shot up in the air to be caught by me on its downward rush. I have never forgotten that moment.
A wonderful wonderful conductor and human being and a marvellous musician. I shall miss you dreadfully Sir Colin but glad you are with your beloved wife now.
And here is the link to an earlier post on Sir Colin and the Missa Solemnis.
http://randomjottings.typepad.com/random_jottings_of_an_ope/2011/09/missa-solemnis-at-the-proms.html
