Role

:

Conductor  

Birth

:

July 26, 1928

Death

:

November 14, 1991

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Bryden Thomson was a Scottish conductor who was born on October 16, 1928, in Dundee, Scotland. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Thomson began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and violin. He later attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where he studied conducting. Thomson began his career as a conductor in the 1950s, working with various orchestras in Scotland. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented and versatile conductor, and in 1961 he was appointed the conductor of the Scottish National Orchestra. He held this position for 14 years, during which time he helped to establish the orchestra as one of the leading orchestras in the UK. During his tenure with the Scottish National Orchestra, Thomson also worked as a guest conductor with many other orchestras around the world. He conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic, among others. He was also a regular guest conductor with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Thomson was known for his interpretations of the works of British composers, particularly Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten. He was also a champion of the music of lesser-known composers, and he conducted many premieres of works by contemporary composers. One of Thomson's most notable achievements was his recording of the complete symphonies of Vaughan Williams. This was a major undertaking, as Vaughan Williams wrote nine symphonies over a period of more than 50 years. Thomson's recordings of these works are considered to be some of the finest interpretations of Vaughan Williams' music. Thomson was also a prolific recording artist, and he made many recordings with the Scottish National Orchestra and other orchestras. He recorded the music of many different composers, including Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Sibelius. In addition to his work as a conductor, Thomson was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and he was a visiting professor at many other institutions around the world. Thomson received many awards and honors throughout his career. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1982, and he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal in 1994. He was also awarded honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Dundee and the University of St. Andrews. Thomson continued to conduct well into his 70s, and he remained an active and respected figure in the world of classical music until his death on November 14, 1991. He is remembered as one of the most important conductors of his generation, and his recordings and performances continue to be admired by music lovers around the world.

More....