Alexander Gibson (conductor)
Encyclopedia
Sir Alexander Gibson, CBE
(11 February 1926 – 14 January 1995) was a Scottish conductor
and opera intendant
.
Gibson was born in Motherwell
and studied music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
in Glasgow
, as well as in London, Salzburg
and Siena
, Italy. At the time of his appointment in 1957 as musical director of Sadler's Wells
, he was the youngest ever to have taken that position.
Returning to Glasgow, in 1959 he became the first Scottish principal conductor and artistic director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
, a post he held until 1984, to date longer than any other conductor. From 1981 to 1983 he was also principal guest conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra
. He was principal conductor of the Guildford Philharmonic.
Gibson founded Scottish Opera
in 1962 and was music director until 1986. Through his artistic achievements the Theatre Royal, Glasgow was bought from Scottish Television and transformed in 1975 as the home theatre of Scottish Opera and of Scottish Ballet, and the first national opera house in Scotland. In 1987, Gibson was appointed conductor laureate of Scottish Opera and held this title for the remainder of his life.
He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1967, was knighted in 1977 and became president of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
, where in his memory, the Alexander Gibson School of Opera was opened in 1998. It was the first purpose-built opera school in Great Britain.
Gibson had a particular affinity for Scandinavian music, particularly Jean Sibelius
, whose work he recorded several times, and Carl Nielsen
.
Alexander Gibson died from complications following a heart attack
. He was 68.
Gibson is also commemorated by a bust
in foyer of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow
, home of Scottish Opera.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(11 February 1926 – 14 January 1995) was a Scottish conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and opera intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
.
Gibson was born in Motherwell
Motherwell
Motherwell is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, south east of Glasgow. The name "Moderwelt" appears on a map of Lanarkshire made by Timothy Pont some time between 1583 and 1611 and printed in the Netherlands in around 1652, although the settlement was probably little more...
and studied music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, as well as in London, Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
and Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, Italy. At the time of his appointment in 1957 as musical director of Sadler's Wells
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
, he was the youngest ever to have taken that position.
Returning to Glasgow, in 1959 he became the first Scottish principal conductor and artistic director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
, a post he held until 1984, to date longer than any other conductor. From 1981 to 1983 he was also principal guest conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra
Houston Symphony Orchestra
The Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. Since 1966, it has performed at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston....
. He was principal conductor of the Guildford Philharmonic.
Gibson founded Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
in 1962 and was music director until 1986. Through his artistic achievements the Theatre Royal, Glasgow was bought from Scottish Television and transformed in 1975 as the home theatre of Scottish Opera and of Scottish Ballet, and the first national opera house in Scotland. In 1987, Gibson was appointed conductor laureate of Scottish Opera and held this title for the remainder of his life.
He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1967, was knighted in 1977 and became president of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
, where in his memory, the Alexander Gibson School of Opera was opened in 1998. It was the first purpose-built opera school in Great Britain.
Gibson had a particular affinity for Scandinavian music, particularly Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
, whose work he recorded several times, and Carl Nielsen
Carl Nielsen
Carl August Nielsen , , widely recognised as Denmark's greatest composer, was also a conductor and a violinist. Brought up by poor but musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age...
.
Alexander Gibson died from complications following a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He was 68.
Gibson is also commemorated by a bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
in foyer of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
The Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in Glasgow, located at 282 Hope Street in Cowcaddens. The theatre originally opened in 1867, changing its name to the Theatre Royal in 1869, and is the longest running theatre in Scotland...
, home of Scottish Opera.
Sources
- New York Times
- Scottish Opera - the first ten years by Conrad Wilson, 1972 ISBN 0-00-410584-2
- It's a Curious Story - The Tale of Scottish Opera 1962-1987 by Cordelia Oliver, 1987 ISBN 1-85158-066-2
- Alex - the Authorised Biography by Conrad Wilson, 1993 ISBN 1-85158-574-5
- The Theatre Royal : Entertaining a Nation by Graeme Smith, 2008 ISBN 978-0-9559420-0-6
External links
- Alexander Gibson biography at the Royal Society of EdinburghRoyal Society of EdinburghThe Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
- Ancestral information from descendant Thomas K. Gibson