Sir Alexander Gibson (1926-1995) photographed with the Scottish National Orchestra at a promenade concert in the Kelvin Hall, c 1975. Gibson helped make the proms a highly popular series of summer concerts.
Born in Motherwell, Gibson studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music (now the RSAMD) before moving to London where he became musical director at Sadler's Wells. He returned to Glasgow in 1959 as musical director and principal conductor of the Scottish National Orchestra, the first Scot ever to be appointed to the post. For the rest of his life, he regarded the city as his home.
Gibson expanded the orchestra's repertoire and fostered its popularity. In 1962 he founded Scottish Opera. With Gibson as artistic director and conductor, the new company's first performance was Madama Butterfly at the King's Theatre. The Theatre Royal became the company's permanent home in 1975. Gibson's international reputation grew over the years, along with that of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Opera. The RSAMD opened the Alexander Gibson Opera School in 1998.
Reference: Illustrations, vol 39, p 69
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
conductors, Kelvin Hall, King's Theatre, music, orchestras, promenade concerts, proms, Royal Scottish Academy of Music, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, RSNO, Sadler's Wells, Scottish Opera, Theatre Royal
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