Sir Colin Davis

Conductor Sir Colin Davis has died at the age of 85, the London Symphony Orchestra has announced.

Surrey-born Sir Colin made his debut with the orchestra in 1959 and was its longest serving principal conductor.
He worked with the Royal Opera House, the BBC Symphony and English Chamber orchestras and was internationally renowned for his interpretations of Mozart, Sibelius and Berlioz.

Roger Wright - controller BBC Radio 3 and director of BBC Proms - said Sir Colin's "death is an enormous loss to music".

"His last performance at the BBC Proms two years ago, a towering interpretation of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, was a reminder of the special qualities of his conducting and his big-hearted and deep musicianship," he added.