Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A classical male dancer, described as possibly the best in the world.
On the island
Eight records
I think it's probably the the one record that's gonna cheer me up. when I've realized that there's a a long stretch of loneliness ahead. And it also reminds me too of New York
Piano Concerto in G Major: Adagio assai
Martha Argerich with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
There's really no special reason for picking this, except perhaps that it will remind me that my mother very much wanted me to play the piano, and I never made it. But it's just a very special piece of music to me. It it's soothing too.
The Prince of the Pagodas: Pas de deux (Act III)Favourite
Benjamin Britten conducting the Royal Opera House Orchestra
These were the first records I ever bought, and I think it's the first ballet that really excited me.
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Scherzo
Pierre Monteux conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
It's my um horror record I've picked uh to get the adrenaline going or to s test whether my nerves have uh given up after being in solitude. In fact, in the company, I've nicknamed it the Scream when we ever do this ballet.
Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano
When Antoninette and I were in Spoleto, we had the great fortune to see a production of this opera by Visconti. It was very. Unforgettable night, really.
I find her possibly the most exciting lady performer. A very exciting talent.
I picked this because not only because it's the human voice, which I think one would desperately need to hear. It's really my sort of humour. It's the company's sort of humour.
Sir Adrian Boult conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
Nimrod would um remind me of home and all the marvellous parts of the country that I would be missing a great deal.
In conversation
Presenter asks
5:04How did your dancing career start?
Well, uh it started by going to the same school as my sister. Um for convenience I suppose. Um we went to the Hampshire School, which was run by Susan Hampshire's mother, Mrs June Hampshire. And it was a school that, apart from the academic side, also concentrated quite a lot on ballet, musical comedy. Tap. And so I learnt all that at a very early age, about four.
Presenter asks
5:56Were you taught music [at the Royal Ballet School]?
Yes, yes I was. I I learnt the recorder.
Presenter asks
6:28Did you appear as children with the Royal Ballet Company?
Not when I was with the school, no. In fact, this is really what made me not so happy being there because. One felt very cut off from the theatre.
Presenter asks
11:01What is it in the chemistry of a partnership which is first apparent?
The keepsakes
Physical matching is the most important thing. I think this is what happened when Sir Frederick put us together. He didn't know that we were going to get on together as people off the stage or share the same sense of humour. That's a sort of added bonus that came with it. He saw that we would please the eye.
Presenter asks
18:00What are your practical qualifications for being a castaway? Could you look after yourself?
I think I could. I would be able to um perhaps build a shelter. I remember doing that as a as a kid with a friend of mine. We were we always seemed to be building houses and to to make them waterproof in an English climate. I think I'd probably be quite good on a in a desert island climate.
“I sort of long to be alone at times, but um I have a secret suspicion that uh I won't be very good at being alone.”
“If you have an off-night in a classic, it's much more noticeable than an off-night in a ballet that's say created on you. Really because you're following in so many people's footsteps.”
“It is the self-discipline that one has to learn. That um stands you in good stead for no end of situations in life itself.”