August 2023 - Carl Davis CBE (1936-2023)
We’re deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Carl Davis. We had the pleasure of working with Carl over the years on a number of projects and we have so many fond memories of him. Our Artistic Planning Director Sandra Parr has shared some of hers with us today.
Carl Davis c. Mark McNulty
Since the early 1980s Carl has been associated with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra through his many concerts and particularly as he was the driving force behind the successful Summer Pops at the King’s Dock in the 1990s. His collaboration with Sir Paul McCartney led to the “Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio” first performed in Liverpool Cathedral in June 1991 for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir's 150th Anniversary. The Orchestra then toured it internationally, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra debut at Carnegie Hall in November 1991.
The range of programmes that Carl presented in the Summer Pops always involved him wearing his wonderful range of sparkly and highly decorated waistcoats and jackets. Over those years the Summer Pops saw Carl and the Orchestra working with many artists including names such as Michael Ball, Daniel O’Donnell and Honor Blackman, with programmes that included music from Beethoven to Beatles, Bond to Bach and thousands of pieces in between. He and his wife, Jean Boht, were known to thousands of Liverpool people as they mingled with audiences post-concert or shopping in town. Their generosity and dedication helped many people over the years.
Carl’s brain at work was something to marvel as I would sit and watch him writing the music to accompany so many silent films, with split second precision and painting colours in the music to match the mood of the story. Here at Liverpool Philharmonic we were treated to many “films with orchestra” including Ben Hur, City Lights, The Gold Rush, Safety Last as well as playing several of his own original scores.
Known for his ability to work fast, his brain was always so active - even when driving him to the Big Top tent, sitting at a red traffic light would provide an opportunity for me to quickly scribble down another idea he had just had. So many of those Summer Pops programmes were born whilst in transit to a rehearsal!
His American heritage meant he knew many musicals and one of the highlights of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra touring was the month-long USA tour with Carl when the Orchestra performed City Lights 19 times around the East coast with performances from Florida up to New York. It was a challenging tour to work with vintage projection equipment but we always found a way to get through and laugh about things. Nothing delighted Carl more than a good giggle.
Many of the recordings that Carl made with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Liverpool and for Leeds Castle in Kent are still played today by Classic fm and they all bring back very fond memories of working with a musical giant who changed the face of concerts in Liverpool forever.
He leaves behind his wife, Liverpool-born Jean Boht, and daughters Hannah and Jessie. He departed so suddenly and they will miss him terribly.
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