Grand finale: VSO's Bramwell Tovey excited to head BBC orchestra

The BBC's Concert Orchestra has announced Bramwell Tovey,thelong-time musical director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), will be its new principal conductor startingJanuary 2018.

"It's a great honour to have been invited to head up this institution at the other end of my career, as it were," said Toveyduring CBC's On the Coast.

Toveystarted hismusicalcareer as a student workingon several BBC classicalbroadcasts. He became VSO's musical director in 2000 and is currentlyin the middle of his "farewell season."

"We're having a wonderful time, I've still got six months or so to go. Our final concert is mid-June, so at the moment I've got the best of both worlds," said Tovey.

Toveysaid the BBCorchestra is different from other orchestras because it's part of a larger institution. He said he looks forward to concentrating onconducting.

"In the case of the BBC, I'll have to head up the organization as its artistic head and principal conductor, but I won't be involved in any marketing or any public relations,"areas for which he is responsible at theVSO.

'Emotional connection'

When it comes to musical quality, Toveysaid the BBC's orchestra and VSOare equally exemplary.

"Professional musicians all over the world are really wonderful," he said. "In Londonthey're amazing and they're amazing in Vancouver."

What sets BBC's orchestra apart for Tovey, however, is itshigh internationalprofile. Tovey said a milestone in his life was being in its audience asa teenager.

"For me, it's a big deal. It's almost an emotional connection when you become the head of an orchestra like that," he said.

Despite his excitement, Tovey's move to the BBC is bittersweet. He said he's loved every moment of his time with theVSO. From meeting audience members to attending fundraising events, Tovey said it's been thrilling to help build the VSO into what it is today.

Now however, he's ready to focus on the music.

"That's been a very precious part of my life but ... When it comes to music making, it is nice to just focus on that."

Though he will relocate to London, Tovey will retain the VSO's title of music directoremeritus.

With files from On the Coast