Alexander Gibson (conductor) facts for kids

Sir Alexander Drummond Gibson (born February 11, 1926, died January 14, 1995) was a famous Scottish conductor. He was also an important leader in the world of opera. He worked for the BBC and was the longest-serving main conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. During his time, this orchestra even received special support from the Royal Family.

Sir Alexander Gibson's Life Story

Alexander Gibson was born in Motherwell, Scotland, in 1926. He grew up in a village called New Stevenston. His parents were James McClure Gibson and Wilhelmina Williams.

Early Musical Journey

When he was 12, his parents took him to see an opera called Madam Butterfly. This show at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow sparked his love for opera. He went to Dalziel High School. Alexander was very good at playing the piano and organ. At 18, he became the organist at Hillhead Congregational Church in Glasgow. At the same time, he studied music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

In 1943, he started studying Music and English at the University of Glasgow. But World War II stopped his studies. He joined the Royal Signals Band until 1948. After the war, he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London. He also studied in Salzburg, Austria, and Siena, Italy, to become an even better conductor.

Building a Career

From 1952 to 1954, he was an assistant conductor for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. In 1957, he became the music director of Sadler's Wells. He was the youngest person ever to get this important job. He met his wife, Veronica, there, and they married in 1958.

In 1959, Alexander Gibson returned to Glasgow. He became the first Scottish main conductor and artistic director of the Scottish National Orchestra. He held this job for 25 years, longer than anyone else. Under his leadership, the orchestra became famous worldwide. They made many recordings and went on international tours. They also performed regularly at big events like the Glasgow Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival. He even helped create the Edinburgh Festival Chorus.

Creating Scottish Opera

Sir Alexander Gibson started Scottish Opera in 1962. He was its music director until 1986. Thanks to his hard work, the Theatre Royal, Glasgow was bought in 1975. It became Scotland's first national opera house. It was home to Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. From 1981 to 1983, he was also a main guest conductor for the Houston Symphony Orchestra. He also led the Guildford Philharmonic. He performed with many major orchestras around the world.

Awards and Achievements

Sir Alexander Gibson received many awards for his work. He won two Grand Prix International de l’Academie Charles Cros Awards. He also received the Sibelius Medal in 1978. Several universities gave him honorary doctorates.

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1967. In 1977, he became a Knight Bachelor, which means he could be called "Sir." He also became president of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. In his memory, the Alexander Gibson School of Opera opened there in 1998. It was the first special opera school built in Great Britain.

Musical Passions

Gibson especially loved Scandinavian music, like the works of Jean Sibelius and Carl Nielsen. He recorded Sibelius's music many times. He received Finland's Sibelius Medal for his dedication to the composer's music. He also strongly supported new music. In 1961, he started a new music festival in Glasgow called Musica Viva, later known as Musica Nova Festival, Glasgow. He conducted many important new pieces there. This included the first British performance of Gruppen by Karlheinz Stockhausen in 1961. He always supported new music by Scottish composers too.

In opera, he was known for his amazing performances of Mozart and Wagner. In 1971, he conducted the complete Ring des Nibelungen with Scottish Opera. He was also excellent at performing Italian operas. In 1969, he conducted a memorable Scottish Opera show of Les Troyens by Berlioz. This was the first time both parts of the opera were performed completely in one evening.

In 1970, Gibson received the St Mungo Prize. This award is given to someone who has done the most to improve and promote the city of Glasgow.

His Passing

Sir Alexander Gibson passed away in January 1995. He was 68 years old. He died from problems after a heart attack. He was survived by his wife, Veronica, and their four children.

His Lasting Impact

Sir Alexander Gibson's main goal was to make classical music and opera available to everyone. Throughout his career, he always encouraged musicians and singers to be their very best. A book by Conrad Wilson details all his recordings and the many concerts and operas he conducted.

At the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, there is a large painting of him. It shows him sitting on a stool in the orchestra pit. This painting was done by David Donaldson. There is also a statue (bust) of him as a conductor by the sculptor Archie Forrest. A street in his hometown of Motherwell is named Alexander Gibson Way in his honor.