The Orchester symphonique de Québec announced in the middle of the afternoon, Wednesday, the death of its first guest conductor Bramwell Tovey. The Englishman, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 69, acted as interim between Fabien Gabel and the person called to succeed him.
Bramwell Tovey, who was the conductor of the Vancouver Orchestra for 18 years, was appointed to Quebec in June 2021 for two seasons, also intended to test all aspirants to musical direction.
“My cancer is bad and I’m fine”, the chef, known for his sense of humor, had then launched to us, one of the distinctive signs in his profession and his career. Tovey was not only an excellent ‘orchestra tamer’, but also a formidable concert host, which led to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra entrusting him with its summer concerts and to him becoming, in Los Angeles, the Principal Guest Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl. His “Inspector Tovey” series in Vancouver was very successful in getting young listeners interested in music.
A character from our story
Bramwell Tovey, who was to conduct six programs with the Orchester symphonique de Québec (OSQ) in 2022-2023, had many friends in Canada since, before Vancouver, he had been artistic director of the Winnipeg Orchestra. The National Arts Center (NAC) in Ottawa has announced that it is lowering its flags to inform us that at the time of his death, Bramwell Tovey, an officer of the Order of Canada, was composing a violin concerto for James Ehnes, at the request of the NAC Orchestra.
NAC Music Director Alexander Shelley summed up everyone’s feelings by saying, “Bramwell was a kind and generous man. […] Many of us have been inspired by his tireless work for the next generation of musicians in Canada. He will be greatly missed. »
“Even if he was not able to be present with us as much as we would have liked during the last season, he was able to leave his mark within the Orchestra. His exceptional charisma, his great qualities as a unifier and his humanism were particularly appreciated,” declared the OSQ.