Philippa Davies BMus ARCM

Phillipa Davies

Philippa Davies has established a world-wide reputation as one of the finest flautists currently performing. A ‘first-rate virtuoso,’ with ‘exceptional eloquence’ she has been noted for an ‘almost electrical response to technique’. As a recitalist, Philippa performs and broadcasts throughout the world at international festivals from Delft, to Kuhmo. She gives master classes and recitals as far a field as China, and the USA. She has performed concertos with the New Stockholm Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia and the London Mozart Players. She has appeared in numerous BBC Proms and will be performing Pierrot Lunaire during the 2001 BBC Proms Season. Last August she gave an acclaimed concert with Mikhail Pletnev and London Winds at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. In November she gave a highly praised performance of the Copland Flute Sonata as part of the Copland Centenary Concert broadcasted live on BBC Radio 3 from the Wigmore Hall.

She began her career as principal flute with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and gained a scholarship to the Royal College of Music where she studied with Douglas Whittaker and William Bennett and won many prizes. She made her debut in the 1977 BBC Proms, and in the BBC Proms ‘88 season gave a highly successful performance of the Mozart D major Concerto. She was the soloist for the World Première (BBC Proms ‘99) of Havoc by Giles Swayne composed with her in mind as solo flute and commissioned by the BBC to mark the 75th season of the BBC singers. During BBC Proms 2000 she gave a much admired performance Copland’s Flute Duo. Philippa’s commitment to contemporary music has attracted commissions and dedications from leading composers: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Robert Saxton, Jonathan Harvey and Giles Swayne. The recent official formation of the Davies Cole Duo with Maggie Cole (harpsichord) has been applauded both by music lovers and the press. Her other duo partnerships are with Bryn Lewis (harp), Kathryn Stott, John Lenehan, Julius Drake (piano). She has appeared regularly with Marisa Robles, Julian Bream, Pascale Rogé, Barry Douglas, Yo Yo Ma and Stephen Kovacevich. Repeated requests have resulted in the recent formation by Philippa of her own group, Philippa & Friends, a flexible ensemble with a line-up ranging from a duo or trio to six or more players. Philippa is also a Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

She has recorded Mozart’s entire original concertos and quartets for Pickwick, ASV and Virgin. Her Debussy recording with the Nash (Hyperion) and Ligeti’s wind quintets together with several solo discs and her Romance of the Flute and Harp with Thelma Owen (Pickwick) are especially popular. Her recording of Poulenc’s Flute Sonata (Hyperion) was released in November 1999 to great approbation. She has given many live performances of A Garland for Linda with the Joyful Company of Singers under Peter Broadbent throughout the UK, she recorded this tribute to the late Linda McCartney which was released worldwide by EMI Classics last year.
Her 2001 schedule includes many performances with the Nash Ensemble and London Winds in addition to appearances with Philippa & Friends, in the Caribbean, London and throughout the UK. She will be performing recitals and concerts in the USA, and Switzerland as well as playing with Maggie Cole. The Davies Cole Duo has taken part in BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends and it’s recital was one of the highlights of the SBC’s International Chamber Music series winter 2000/01.