Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Principal horn of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
On the island
Eight records
Frühling (Spring) from Four Last SongsFavourite
I decided that as I had companions, I would need to hear a different sort of human voice other than theirs. And so I thought one of the most pleasant human voices I could think of was Lucia Popps. And it so happens that one of my favourite pieces is the Four Last Songs, and we have just recorded this with her just recently.
I'm going to um depart from uh the classical side of music because uh I like all sorts of music and uh one of the uh artists I particularly think is really great in the rock side or pop side or whatever you like to call it is David Bowie and I feel I must have some of his things.
The keepsakes
The book
Hector Berlioz
years ago I read Hector Belles' autobiography. And I thought that was absolutely fantastic. He was an absolute madman. Yes, a marvellous book.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:46Nicholas, you were brought up with music. Of course, your father was a composer?
Yes, he he was um a composer, although he died when I was five years old. But my mother was um Very insistent that I take up a musical instrument, and she started me on the piano.
Presenter asks
2:19Was it always music that interested you? You had no other ambitions?
I actually wanted to go into farming.
Presenter asks
3:03How long have you been with the London Philharmonic?
Well, I joined in seventy three, in January 1973.
Presenter asks
16:21Do you and your committee decide which concerts you should play, which towns you visit, which soloists you engage?
Yes, we decide um everything really. We we have uh total control over the artistic policy and conductors and everything to do with the orchestra.
as long as I can share in his wine, because that's really what I wanted to take, endless supply of wine, I would like an endless supply of razors and shaving soap.
“I actually wanted to go into farming.”
“I went to music because I felt it would be easier. … I think uh it's been proved wrong over the years.”
“It's a very difficult instrument to play.”