Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
East German-born conductor, defector at 45, acclaimed with Boston Symphony, later principal conductor of London Philharmonic, known for intense, physical perfor
On the island
Eight records
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 'Pastoral'
First record. 'Stemstund' (finest hour) – a special performance.
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 'Pathétique'
Heard as a teenager under the eiderdown with his father. 'This is one of the greatest orchestras in the world of Philadelphia.'
Long ago record with Birgit Nilsson and Sir Georg Solti. 'It was a fantastic record.'
Jessye Norman sang the finale at his request. 'She said, Yes, I did it. I miss I think it is a great performance.'
Symphony No. 6 in A minor (finale)
Favourite disc. 'The sixth Mala is Malas biography of his terrible life.'
String Quartet No. 2 'Intimate Letters' (fourth movement)
Heard the original version and was breathless. 'We tried it in and after five minutes we said, Okay, forget it. Enough.'
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 (third movement)
Nigel Kennedy played the violin concerto. 'Nigel Kennedy was an utter other person. Absolutely serious. He is fantastic.'
Toscanini conducted the opening of the Piccola Scala. 'A Tuscany was maybe the greatest opera conductor.'
In conversation
Presenter asks
4:35When was the first time you conducted in public?
It is almost a criminal story. You know I was leader. Violinist In Orchestra? In Halle, this town where Handel is born. And one evening The conductor of an modern opera. was sick. Yeah, nobody was there. And I I knew this work very well. And They asked me, Can you? conduct this opera. I never conduct in my life, you know. I didn't know the reaction. of the orchestra. But I said, Okay, I'll do it. And his performance? was Sure, not the best, but it was no cutters off.
Presenter asks
12:58You said you felt stifled in East Germany. Can you explain that?
Soon, I never could play what I want. You know? The Communism Party. What's Always with you. And sure, also in the orchestra there were communism and uh communism people. So you were always controlled, you were always told what you could do. You always told what you And the main thing for my escape was I couldn't go out as a gas conductor uh to New York or to London or or nothing.
Presenter asks
19:41What is the nature of the love affair between you and the London Philharmonic?
Maybe that is a secret, I I can't say this. This orchestra is so flexible and It is a romantic orchestra. And I feel I am a romantic conductor, so we We are good together, you know.
The keepsakes
The book
Thomas Mann
One of my bestsellers is Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann. It is such a fantastic about modern music, you know.
The luxury
If the island is a little hilly? Then I take with me a very, very expensive mountain pack. to go round and round in circles.
Presenter asks
23:42How did having cancer affect you as a person? Did it change you?
Maybe You become more serious. You think more? About your life. And that's good for music. You know?
Presenter asks
26:57Tell me about your other joys.
History Antique. Paintings Impersionismus. Reading I have na about a thousand books. Important books for me. ... Yeah, that's my hobby, my biggest hobby.
Presenter asks
30:37Do you have a dream left in your musical career – one piece or opera you still long to conduct?
Maybe uh Once, but I I think it's not possible. Um I don't have time enough. Maybe the ring.
“I was so happy.”
“And then really you listen. And in the last movement my father said, Son, listen. This is one of the greatest orchestras in the world of Philadelphia.”
“The thirty six trees are mined near Jerusalem. It's all mine, you know, when I when I died five hundred years later. My trees are there.”
“The sixth Mala is Malas biography of his terrible life. ... The Most Difficult Symphony. So grandiose, I'm not happy about it.”
“I I I I cannot be alone and uh I cannot, like Robinson Crusoe, build a little house or so. I would be helpless, you know. I would go in the ocean. You drown yourself. So this question is uh not possible for me. You know, the the desert island is baby, a big dream. Nothing else.”