Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A caricaturist who was expelled from art school for caricaturing the principal, taught art and German, then joined a London evening paper.
On the island
Eight records
The transcript mentions 'Ravel's opera, La Filet Sophilaires' which is a clear ASR mangling of L'Enfant et les sortilèges (the libretto is by Colette).
The keepsakes
The book
Not recorded.
The luxury
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:24Which came first in your case, music or drawing?
I think clear drawing. I made my first drawing when I was one and a half.
Presenter asks
0:32Did you set out to be an artist? Did you go to an art school?
I was expelled from my art school on some … I was experimental for caricaturing the principal. I caricatured him every day … until I was expelled.
Presenter asks
1:45What went wrong with [teaching art and German]?
Oh, nothing went wrong. The only thing is I was drawing while I was teaching and I had an offer from one of the London evening papers to go and join them. It was a staff appointment. And I left teaching because of that.
Presenter asks
2:03[When you joined the evening paper,] were you happy then?
I was very happy at first, but I couldn't draw every night. I had to do a drawing every nearly every night, and I'm not the that sort of artist who can do that. I just couldn't do it, it was impossible because my work, especially in those days, was highly detailed. I found it too much of a strain.
Presenter asks
4:57How did the Hoffnung Music Festival at the Festival Hall happen?
I always felt that there is a place for caricature and music, you see? And we started planning very seriously. I think my wife and I. And the whole thing was made possible.
Presenter asks
5:24What are your thoughts now, faithful desert island exile?
I think it's a very good thing. Excellent. I think everybody ought to be on a desert island at one time or another. Very good for the morale. Give people a chance to go into themselves and think of the things they might have done instead of leading their own selfish, miserable lives.
“I was expelled from my art school on some … I was experimental for caricaturing the principal. I caricatured him every day … until I was expelled.”
“I couldn't draw every night. I had to do a drawing every nearly every night, and I'm not the that sort of artist who can do that. I just couldn't do it, it was impossible because my work, especially in those days, was highly detailed. I found it too much of a strain.”
“I think everybody ought to be on a desert island at one time or another. Very good for the morale. Give people a chance to go into themselves and think of the things they might have done instead of leading their own selfish, miserable lives.”