Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Desert Island Discs
Presented by Roy Plomley
Opera singer who originated the role of Tom Rakewell in the first English production of Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress.
Eight records
The keepsakes
No book or luxury recorded for this episode.
In conversation
Presenter asks
Could you tell us how you came to be cast as Tom Rakewell in the first English performance of The Rake's Progress?
Well, a good few years ago now, when in fact I was at Glyndebourne I think at the time. And David Harris, who was then the BBC's opera department manager, asked if I would look at the then new opera by Stravinsky, The Rake's Progress, to come and sing some of it for an audition. Which I did. And I was cast as Tom Rakewell in what was the first performance in England of this opera.
Presenter asks
How did it happen that Stravinsky himself chose you to sing that part in the recording?
It came about as a result of a Sadler's Wells tour on the continent. We'd been to many places and we ended up in Hamburg. Where we had what, as far as I can remember, was one of the most stupendous ovations that I've ever known in the Opera House. And we came home after that ovation. And a few days later I was in Sadler's Wells rehearsing another opera and somebody handed me a telegram, which I opened quite casually and the purport of the telegram was an invitation to go to New York to singing the opera in Carnegie Hall for Stravinsky's eightieth birthday celebrations. And of course, needless to say, I said yes, I would go and in the course of that production I met Stravinsky and both the librettists as well, incidentally, Auden and Kalman. And it was as a result of that that Stravinsky, when he decided to re-record the opera, asked me to sing the title role.
The recording
Timestamps play the recording from that turn
Alexander Young
This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island Discs. The presenter was Roy Plumley.
Presenter
Let's go on talking about your operatic career. The part with which you're most associated is The Rake and The Rake's Progress.
Alexander Young
Yes. It all started
Alexander Young
Well, a good few years ago now.
Alexander Young
when in fact I was at Glinebourne I think at the time.
Alexander Young
And David Harris, who was then the BBC's opera department manager.
Alexander Young
Asked if I would look
Alexander Young
At the then new opera by Stravinsky, The Rake's Progress,
Alexander Young
to come and sing some of it for an audition.
Alexander Young
Which I did.
Alexander Young
And I was cast as Tom Rakewell in what was the first performance in England of this opera.
Presenter
I believe Stravinsky himself chose you to sing that part in the recording.
Alexander Young
Yes, he did. Um
Alexander Young
It it came about as a result of a Seth as well's tour.
Alexander Young
on the continent. We'd been to many places and we ended up in Hamburg.
Alexander Young
Where we head?
Alexander Young
I think what
Alexander Young
as far as I can remember, was one of the most stupendous ovations
Alexander Young
that that I've ever known in the Opera House. And we came home after that ovation.
Alexander Young
And a few days later I was in Sadler's Wells rehearsing another opera and somebody handed me a telegram.
Alexander Young
which I opened quite casually and the purport of the telegram was an invitation to go to New York.
Alexander Young
to seeing the opera in Carnegie Hall for Stravinsky's eightieth birthday celebrations.
Alexander Young
And of course, needless to say, I said yes, I would go and in the course of that production I met Stravinsky and both the librettists as well, incidentally, Auden and Kalman.
Alexander Young
And it was as a result of that that Stravinsky, when he decided to re-record the opera, asked me to sing the title role.
“We ended up in Hamburg. Where we had what, as far as I can remember, was one of the most stupendous ovations that I've ever known in the Opera House.”
“I met Stravinsky and both the librettists as well, incidentally, Auden and Kalman.”