Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Figure skater from Birmingham who reached the top of his profession at Innsbruck and was called the best skater in the world.
On the island
Eight records
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Carrian (Herbert von Karajan, corrected from ASR 'Carrian') — piece identified as 'Afternoon of a Fawn'. That's also canonical as 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune'.
September (from Four Last Songs)
September — from Four Last Songs, sung by Lisa Della Casa (corrected from ASR 'Lisa Della Casso')
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 'Pathétique' — third movement (closing section)
Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony — closing section of third movement, Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra
Trumpet Concerto in B flat (Albinoni)
Maurice André and Vienna Soloists
Albinoni's Trumpet Concerto in B flat — played by Maurice Andre and the Vienna Soloist
Jule Styne (music), Stephen Sondheim (lyrics)
Angela Lansbury singing 'Some People' — from the musical Gypsy
Das Lied von der Erde (opening section)
James King (tenor) — likely with orchestra
Song of the Earth (Das Lied von der Erde) by Mahler — opening section, voice of James King
Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, Op. 3 No. 8 (RV 522)Favourite
David Oistrakh and Igor Oistrakh
Vivaldi concerto for two violins in A minor, P 2 (RV 522 in modern numbering) — David and Igor Oystrak (corrected spelling 'Oistrakh')
In conversation
Presenter asks
3:20You from Birmingham, not a city of snow and ice — where did you first see skating?
When I first saw skating on the television, it was a Christmas pantomime from the Wembley ice show, and I was instantly captivated. I loved it. We did have an ice rink in Birmingham, and I persuaded my mother to take me there. That was when I was about seven. … when I got there, it was something that I'd been looking forward to so much and I loved it and I was lucky enough to have skates that fitted me and a teacher holding my hand the moment I put my skate on the ice and it came very naturally to me, I must say, I didn't ever have to hold onto the barrier and all that sort of thing.
Presenter asks
4:16What was your first success? What was the first attempt you won? And how old were you?
Well, the first event I won was called the Hop, Skip and a Jump Competition. And I won that when I was, I guess, just coming up for eight. … I didn't know I was even competing.
Presenter asks
5:09When did your fascination for ballet develop?
I think I've always been fascinated by dance and theatre. And music. … the first time I actually saw a ballet I must have been around fourteen or fifteen and I saw the touring company of the Royal Ballet and I just loved it. It seemed to be so wonderful.
The keepsakes
The book
a transcript of the Erhard Seminars Training (est) course
I would become terribly, terribly depressed if I thought I'd never get away, but I think that I could actually live if I had that with me.
The luxury
pencils, papers, paints, and lots of paper
I'd take uh pencils and papers and paints and lots of paper'cause I I used to paint a lot and I'd love to do that and I haven't had the chance for so long. And I'd also write because uh I I might uh th if I were on a desert island think about actually writing about myself.
Presenter asks
10:00You were a skater, international championship class number four in the world or something, still working virtually as an office boy for an office boy's money. What was the breakthrough?
Well, the big thing was that after the World Championships in Bratislava a man walked up to me and said 'I have enjoyed your skating for the last three years. … I'd like to help you.' … I thought he just wanted to tell me how to jump higher or spin faster or something … Anyway later I met him properly, officially and he said, 'I understand you're facing very, very great financial problem. … I would be very sorry if your talent was not developed for a lack of money. …' And it really meant that from that moment onwards I never ever had to think about money again.
Presenter asks
11:25Because of the system, our British champion had to be trained by American money with an Italian coach in America, just because the facilities aren't here. Will they be here? Are things getting better?
I hope so. And I am at the moment … I know that various people and various organizations are really, you know, trying to do something about it. But then I must be honest and say that they were also trying to do something about it when I was seven.
Presenter asks
14:41Before the judge's verdict, before you saw the figures, did you know you'd got [the gold]?
Yes, I actually thought I had because it was one of the rare occasions when physically, musically and mentally my body and my skating came together. It doesn't happen very often, I must say. … it didn't really hit me until a few weeks later until after Worlds and after everything else and we were on tour and when they announced … 'now John Curry, champion of Britain, Europe, the world and the Olympics' and I thought well that sounds okay. Done it.
“I can't hear music without seeing in my mind's eye people either dancing or skating to it.”
“I chose music that has consistently [helped me], not just for short periods but consistently.”
“From that moment onwards I never ever had to think about money again.”
“I knew that the only way I'd ever get to be able to do it was by winning the Olympics because in that case people would listen to you if you won the Olympics but they wouldn't listen to you if you come second.”
“I would become terribly, terribly depressed if I thought I'd never get away, but I think that I could actually live if I had that [the est transcript] with me.”