Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A singer and actor who was a star of some of the great musical comedies of the 1920s and 1930s.
On the island
Eight records
It's some choral singing, some of the most beautiful choral singing I know.
This record of Pertile's seems to possess everything. It has drama, it has passion, it has legato singing, it has lovely pianissimos.
Though it's over 30 years ago since I heard it, I never tire of this number.
Muriel Dickson, Dorothy Gill, Stuart Robertson, Derek Oldham
It's so representative, Sullivan and Gilbert both at their best. And I have that little fa la la. That's the only thing I sing in it, but I'd like to have that record.
Siegfried IdyllFavourite
I think the Siegfried Idyll would be the most representative.
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
You know that broken voice of his? It always tears me up.
Peter Katin (piano), London Symphony Orchestra
I must have a piano record and I love this one. ... To me, I think they're thrilling.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:50If the loneliness doesn't worry you so much, is there anything else that worries you?
Well, anyway, if it's a tropical island, those insects are going to worry me. I have a great horror of the insect world. I simply cannot bear it.
Presenter asks
5:00When did you start taking an interest [in singing]?
Oh, well, I remember I was taught the Wohin of Schubert when I was eight years old. And I think I always sang. I always had this voice. I know there's a family joke. I know mother once said, listen to that child. Something ought to be done about him. I was always singing.
Presenter asks
7:51After the war, was it easy to get back into the theatre?
Yes, actually, I'd saved my gratuity and I'd had other things saved and I was going to Italy to study. ... I was engaged as principal tenor for [Rupert D'Oyly Carte's] season. And so that washed out all ideas of going abroad to study.
Presenter asks
The keepsakes
The book
I think I'd like the Encyclopædia Britannica. There are a lot of volumes there, and there's a lot of reading.
The luxury
Insect powder and mosquito netting
I'm terrified of insects. It's no good. I'm just terrified of them. Now could I take barrels and barrels and barrels of insect powder? Yes. And also, could I have some hundreds and thousands of yards of mosquito netting, please?
[You were playing juvenile leads until you were 57. What made you stop?]
Well, I was getting a bit ashamed. You see, I was still playing juvenile leads and I was 57 years old. And this can't be. Actually, the thing that pulled me up one night I was driving away from the theater after I think it was The Waltz Dream and I had a friend with me in the car and there was someone waving, waving, so he said, come on, do your stuff. So I turned down the window and she said, hey, Mr. Oldham, I did so want to have a word with you. You know, you used to go to school with my mother. And anyway, my friend said, I never spoke another word for 10 minutes. Anyway, that settled me. I just refused to play any more juvenile leads.
Presenter asks
15:14What do you think of the new musicals?
Well, I rather come more to the place because I don't find myself at home in the new musicals. I don't like the singing to begin with. There isn't the singing that there used to be. ... No, I just don't feel at home.
“I must have a piano record and I love this one. It's ... the symphonic variations for piano and orchestra ... of César Franck. And I'd like to have those. To me, I think they're thrilling.”
“I'm terrified of insects. It's no good. I'm just terrified of them.”
“I always wanted to do a Desert Island Discs, and I was never asked. And I feel now that it's rounded off a long career very happily.”