Bramwell Tovey, the Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, has died. His recordings with a number of orchestras and labels regularly received praise in our pages.

Alan Davey, Controller BBC Radio 3, BBC Proms and BBC Orchestras and Choirs, said: ‘Bramwell Tovey was a gifted conductor who has been an integral part of the BBC Concert Orchestra since January 2018. His rapport with the orchestra has seen them flourish under his leadership and his joyful, human approach to music making. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.’

Concerts during his time with the BBC Concert Orchestra reflected his – and the ensemble’s – diversity of repertoire, from Viennese music to film scores, as well as world premieres by BBC CO Composer in Residence Dobrinka Tabakova including Tectonic and Timber & Steel. 

Tovey was also a composer, recent recordings including Stream of Limelight which featured on an Onyx album by James Ehnes in 2018, a violinist who Tovey had conducted on an earlier recording of the Barber, Walton and Korngold concertos.

Other orchestral posts Tovey held included Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (2000-18), the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (2002-06), the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (1989-2001), and Sadler's Wells (1984-88). He had also been Artistic Director of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain since 2006. He was also a much-loved conductor of the New York Philharmonic's popular summer Concerts in the Parks.

Bill Chandler, Director of BBC Concert Orchestra, said: 'The BBC Concert Orchestra family is deeply saddened to lose Bramwell Tovey, our Principal Conductor for the past four years and dear friend for many more. He was a musicians’ conductor whose warmth, sense of humour and artistic leadership will be sorely missed.'