Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, known for penal reform after Strangeways, authorizing James Bulger's killers' release, and the historic Diane Bl
On the island
Eight records
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810 ('Death and the Maiden')
The music is beautiful, and my wife also likes it. It was played for her birthday in our home, a memorable occasion. It's also important because the recording you're going to hear is at the Wigmore Hall, and we both have had wonderful evenings listening to various ensembles at the Wigmore Hall.
Fettes College Pipes and Drums
Well, I think Fetters made a big contribution to what I am to day.
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan, conducted by Claudio Abbado
My next uh piece of music is from a most beautiful and wonderful opera, Don Carlos, music which thrills me.
My next one is a very, very important one because it's a song that was hugely popular at the time that I got married to my wife Marguerite when we went for a honeymoon to Jamaica.
Fidelio (Prisoners' Chorus)Favourite
Choir of the Berlin Opera and the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan
Well, my next piece of music is connected with my feelings about uh the law and imprisonment, because it's the prisoner's chorus from Beethoven's Fidelia.
Eugene Onegin (Gremin's Aria: 'Love is no respecter of age')
Nicolai Ghiaurov with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conducted by Sir Georg Solti
Well, the next piece I think is a very, very beautiful solo part from the lovely Tchaikovsky Eugene O'Negan, which is one of the most beautiful operas, I believe, that exist.
Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a ('Les Adieux')
Well, I've chosen it because of the beauty of the music. I've chosen Leah Macaulay because Marguerite, late in her life, has taken up painting, and his wife teaches Marguerite.
Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Murray Perahia and members of the Amadeus Quartet
Well, my next piece of music is Brahm's Quartet for Piano and Strings. The piano part is played by Murray Periah, who I regard not only as a friend, but a brilliant pianist.
In conversation
Presenter asks
2:06Do you consider yourself to be somebody who has a good deal of courage?
No, I don't but I don't believe that popular conception as to what people want to hear is necessarily right, and I've got great faith in the power to persuade people by logical argument if your cause is right.
Presenter asks
8:29What were your parents' ambitions for you at that point [when sending you to Fettes]?
All their children they wanted to do their best for, and they thought any money that was spent on education was not wasted.
Presenter asks
10:26Did you speak to your parents ever about that [bullying at school]?
Certainly not my parents. I would never dream of speaking to my parents about it. And I didn't speak to schoolmasters. I mean, I thought this was part of growing up.
Presenter asks
17:02The keepsakes
The book
I really do feel deeply conscious that I am ignorant about the Koran, and I would welcome an opportunity of making myself as familiar with the Kor'an as I am with other parts of the Bible. Strife between different uh religions has been down the centuries, but greater understanding I believe will reduce strife.
The luxury
A family photograph including Marguerite and the two newest grandchildren
I've already got a photograph of my children and grandchildren, but it hasn't got my two newest grandchildren on it, and it hasn't got Marguerite on it. The photograph I've got is a hugely happy photograph. And I'd like the same photograph to be taken again, but include the whole family now, as well as Marguerite.
How important was your Jewishness to the relationship [with your wife Marguerite]?
In a way, for a Sephardi girl like Marguerite to marry an Ashkenazi was really sort of rather marrying beneath her. Her family wouldn't be as enthusiastic as another Sephardi. Indeed, she's told me more than once that if her late father had been alive, he would have strongly objected. But uh her mother, who had six children, was very glad to get one of her daughters off her hand.
Presenter asks
28:57How do you respond to that [criticism from the press]?
No purpose in showing that you are affected by it.
“When I decided to go to the bar, my mother said to me I will never forget this she said, Well, that's all right for a hobby, Harry, but uh you've got to have a business as well. I think she came to change her views, because fortunately she saw me become a judge, but she really didn't think that was a proper occupation for a Jewish man.”
“I I was, I think, a bit of a b barrackroom lawyer in some ways, even at that stage, that I thought well some things were right and some things were wrong.”
“And anybody who thinks that there's nothing involved in imprisonment and suggests a holiday camp wants to have spent even one night in custody.”
“I think this is the most important part of Judaism Judaism in the home. And one of the things that has been very important, and one of the things again part of my wife's contribution, is that we always spend Friday nights together if we can.”