Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A lawyer, barrister and recently retired London magistrate.
On the island
Eight records
Mir ist so wunderbar (Quartet from Act I of Fidelio)
The opening of the quartet from the first act of Beethoven's Fidelia
Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61 (first movement)
Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Sir Edward Elgar (conductor)
I've always been an admirer of his music. and indeed I was present as a young man when uh Henry Wood presented him with the Royal Philharmonic Society's Gold Medal and referred to him as England's greatest composer and I agree with it.
Excerpt from Act III of Tristan und Isolde
Kirsten Flagstad (soprano), Wilhelm Furtwängler (conductor)
I was present at Flagstart's first appearance in the role at Coffengarden, I think it was in 1936. And I think that this is the finest recording of them marvellous work.
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell (conductor)
I like very much indeed. I think that it's undoubtedly his best orchestral work.
Falstaff (excerpt from Act II)
I've picked Falstaff because I think it's a miracle that a man he was in his eightieth year could produce such a sparkling score as that, the work of what one would think was a comparatively young man. And particularly the recording which has been conducted by Toscanini.
Symphony No. 9 in D major, IV. Adagio
I knew about Mahler in the pre-electric seventy-eight days. Because I'd seen in a Polydor catalogue that there was a recording of his second symphony on 22 Sides when I acquired this. And got to like it very much. And ever since then I have been very keen Mahlerite.
Excerpt from Act III of Pelléas et Mélisande
Camille Maurane (baritone), Ernest Blanc (bass)
which I think probably the greatest of the French operas, certainly my favourite. And in my top ten.
Quintet from Act III of Die Meistersinger von NürnbergFavourite
which is my desert island opera, if ever there was one. Particularly, I'd like to hear part of the quintet from the third act.
In conversation
Presenter asks
4:46Was it something of a handicap as a boy to be the son of such a distinguished figure? Were you always expected to be funny wherever you went?
No, I don't think I was expected to be funny, but I was always known all through my life as the son of the famous comedian.
Presenter asks
5:04Did you ever have the ambition to go into the same profession, to be a comedian or an actor?
No. I was very keen on the stage as a boy. When I was 15, I became absolutely enchanted with the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. … I soon got over that idea when I thought of the tours that they constantly did all over the country. And that put me off. At once.
Presenter asks
5:39When did you decide that the law was to be your profession?
Well I left school during the last year of World War One. And it was difficult to know, to adjust myself, to know what I was going to do. My father wanted me to be a chartered account. I said that was no good,'cause I can't add two and two together. … And I'd seen or heard rather a trial at the Old Bailey in nineteen eighteen, quite a well known murder case, and I thought that the real drama of that trial Which interested me immensely in the legal profession, particularly that of a barrister.
The keepsakes
The luxury
largest case possible of white German wine
I cannot think of anything sensible. So I will say The largest case possible of white German wine.
Presenter asks
9:56Now you've figured in a number of sensational and famous murder trials. Which ones stand out in your mind particularly?
Well, I think there are obviously two. There was the case of James Cam, C A M B. … And the other one was Uh Hague. who was always known as the Acid Bath Hiller. … Haig, uh, a man of great charm, one is told. Well, he lived at the Onslow Court Hotel. And all the old ladies there knew him quite well. In fact, his victim knew him there, met him there. and they all thought he was uh most kind and helpful. Splendid fellow.
Presenter asks
15:16You've just retired. How are you going to spend your retirement?
Well, I retired in August 1972, but I don't regard myself as entirely for a tired magistrate because I can be called back. until nineteen seventy five at any rate, and indeed have been and have been.
Presenter asks
15:42You've mentioned your attachment to Gilbert and Sullivan. You've appeared in very many amateur productions of those operas, haven't you?
Yes, I have indeed, ever since the age of nineteen, on and off. And I'm still doing it. And I've played in All of their works, including those rare operas, The Grand Duke and Utopia Limited. I've done the entire output. Yes, always the principal comedian's part. Yes.
“No, never, I'm glad to say. Can you envisage it? I think it would be appalling. Can't imagine anything more awful.”
“No, I don't think I was expected to be funny, but I was always known all through my life as the son of the famous comedian.”
“Haig, uh, a man of great charm, one is told. Well, he lived at the Onslow Court Hotel. And all the old ladies there knew him quite well. In fact, his victim knew him there, met him there. and they all thought he was uh most kind and helpful. Splendid fellow.”
“I knew about Mahler in the pre-electric seventy-eight days. Because I'd seen in a Polydor catalogue that there was a recording of his second symphony on 22 Sides when I acquired this. And got to like it very much. And ever since then I have been very keen Mahlerite.”
“Well, I've thought about that rather carefully, but I cannot think of anything sensible. So I will say The largest case possible of white German wine.”