Peter Maxwell Davies

Bio

Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016) was an English composer and conductor whose work bridged expressionism and contemporary classical music. Born in Salford, he studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music and in Italy before establishing himself as a leading figure in British modernism. His catalogue includes symphonies, concertos, and operas, often marked by rigorous structure and dramatic intensity. Davies served as Master of the Queen’s Music from 2004 to 2014 and founded the St Magnus Festival in Orkney, where he lived from the 1970s onward. His music frequently engaged with historical and literary sources, and he remained an influential teacher and advocate for new music until his death in 2016.