Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is a renowned composer of his generation, whose remarkable career has spanned multiple decades and continents. Following his early studies at Manchester University, he further honed his compositional skills under the guidance of renowned mentors Goffredo Petrassi in Rome and Roger Sessions and Earl Kim at Princeton University as a Harkness Fellow.
Throughout his illustrious career, Davies has penned hundreds of works across a wide range of genres, including chamber music, orchestral compositions, and vocal pieces. His output has been performed globally, solidifying his reputation as one of the most prolific and respected composers of his time.
As the artistic director of the virtuoso chamber ensemble "The Fires of London," Davies was instrumental in showcasing musical theatre works. His magnum opus, "Eight Songs for a Mad King" (1969),remains his most celebrated composition, written specifically for this ensemble.
In the latter half of his career, Davies devoted significant attention to orchestral music, producing an astonishing number of symphonies, concerti, cantatas, and shorter orchestral works in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. His impressive body of work has garnered numerous accolades, including a knighthood in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the world of music.
In addition to his orchestral endeavors, Davies has also ventured into film composition, scoring two film scores for renowned director Ken Russell.
