Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Violinist who won the Paganini Competition, survived the Budapest ghetto, and became a professor at the Royal Academy of Music.
On the island
Eight records
Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: III. AndanteFavourite
This particular movement I played countless of times because I feel that it's sort of quiet and it settles down the nerves.
St Matthew Passion, BWV 244: Opening Chorus
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle
Simon Rettel is, I think, one of the greatest living English musicians, and I have known him since he was twenty years old.
Serenade No. 10 in B-flat major, K. 361 "Gran Partita": III. Adagio
Wind Soloists of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, led by Alexander Schneider
Wozat is my other love, and one of my favourite instruments are the woodwind instruments.
Kolos Kováts, Sylvia Sass and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Georg Solti
Bartok of course for a Hungarian musician is another Bible. All my life I I played Bartok and I interpreted Bartok, I taught Bartok.
East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)
I heard a wonderfully talented Canadian lady who plays the piano and also sings, and her name is Diana Kroll, and I would like to take one of her songs with me to the desert island.
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala Milan, conducted by Carlos Kleiber
Now we are returning to oper opera, and one of the greatest operas, I think, which are written is by Verdi is the Otello.
Così fan tutte, K. 588: Act I, Trio: "Soave sia il vento"
Ivan knew he knew that it's one of my favorite operas. And he made a speech after my performance, and without me knowing and seeing, there were three singers coming into the stage. And then he started with this uh the this E major chord, you know, the Picosi trio, and I started to cry.
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz. 106: IV. Allegro molto
Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, directed by János Rolla
I would like to hear the music for strings and celesta and percussion performed by my great friends and partners in in life with the Franzlis Chamber Orchestra of Hungary.
In conversation
Presenter asks
2:27Do you remember what that felt like, stepping out [to Italy for the Paganini Violin Competition]?
Well, it was a miracle, because I arrived to Italy actually late. I didn't have my papers in order, and the jury came together after the f the first round, and especially came together to just to listen to me.
Presenter asks
3:40Did you understand anything of the fact that music may be your passport to freedom?
Yes, I did. So this was the first time I was able to come to the West. And I felt that music is international and I cannot live in a in a prison.
Presenter asks
6:20What are your memories of the very early days at home with your mum and dad?
Well, my father and mother unfortunately and this must get psychological in my mind I don't remember my parents. … Which hurts me very much. Because I lost my father's my father was in the labor camp. … From when I was four years old. So I have not seen him ever since. And afterwards, my mother was taken away. … then I just don't remember and I'm sure they loved me very much, but I don't remember anything. I don't remember their their physical signs, how they they kissed me or they they stroked me, and that pains me very much.
The keepsakes
The book
George Mikes
Yes, it's one of my countrymen who lived before the war he lived in England. His name was George Mikash. And he wrote some very funny books, and perhaps his funniest was called How to Be an Alien. This is for foreigners who came to England to get used to the life in England, but it's funny.
The luxury
Espresso machine with capsules
all my life, you know, I liked coffee. So and quite recently I bought myself an espresso. Ah, the machine. The master makes the coffee with the little capsules. So I would like to have one of those with many, many capsules.
Presenter asks
10:46What can you remember about [living in the Budapest ghetto]?
I can remember the following hunger, Fear? And I was always called. but mainly hunger and fear, and this stayed with me so much all my life that all all the time when I was staying in in the best hotels in the world I always made sure that I had some food with me. I didn't eat it, I didn't touch it, but it was such a fear and such a feeling that I might go hungry that I always had some extra food with me.
Presenter asks
17:09Did you tell [your grandmother] what you planned [when you fled Hungary]?
No … I didn't dare to because she loved me so much and I was her life. And I was afraid she would do something to to not to let I I shouldn't be able to go.
Presenter asks
21:08How did you find [Sir Georg Solti] to work with?
Well, I found him very easy. … But I know that the this story that he was he was called the Screaming Skull. you know, especially in his earlier years when he was younger. Nowadays perhaps it w wouldn't be uh tolerated.
“I wake up in the morning and and usually th there's something Bach in my mind and and it's a beautiful thing.”
“I went to Paris and as soon as I asked for political asylum And the authorities in in Hungary, of course, they knew it immediately, and they took away her telephone. I wasn't able to write to her letters, because it was all sensed. They were very, very angry given so for many, many years, in fact for seventeen years. I didn't go back to Hungary. First, I didn't want to, and secondly, I didn't dare to.”
“I saw him very often in his house, and I tell you a little secret that we were watching together Match of the Day, and he was just another Hungarian who was interested in football like I was but as soon as the maid or anybody came into the room he became the maestro. He behaved totally differently.”
“Home for me is England. So when I went to Hungary I went to visit the country where I was born, but not a home. Home is England.”
“It is. It's the continuation of your arm. I mean, the violin should be the continuation of your arm.”