About twenty years ago the morning the front door bell rang. At the time I was living in a Brunswick Road barrel fronted Regency... »
Music
The Fourth Conductor – Sir Henry Wood
There is a fourth conductor that David would have added to this list that of Sir Henry J. Wood. In his teens and until he was called up to serve in the British Army David joined the audience at London’s Queens Hall for the Henry Wood Promenade concerts each summer. It was a musical... »
Pianos at the Mews (from “Clara”)
“A friend had bought a square piano in Bonham’s saleroom with the intention of having it restored as a present for me. Nothing had ever been done and I decided to see to it. Morleys came, looked, and went away to quote. Then by a happy chance there was a commercial at a house... »
Keith and Vivienne, the Classical Longplayer
David’s regular perambulations through the streets of Brighton were clearly ritualistic. 1. Walking into town. 2. Specialist newsagent for Gay Magazine. 3. Packets of Coffee and Tea from Robert’s shop. 4. Cds at Keith and Vivienne’s – The Classical Longplayer 5. Books at Colin Page, then Holleyman and Treacher, both in Duke Street. Over the years, his favourite shops were... »
Conductors Great and Small
His Gods were his Gods. No arguments allowed. His Villains, either through imagined incompetence or banality, were to be universally condemned by me, my family, and by any friends I could ask. Any photographs of the Villains going about their legitimate business on the podium were to be held aloft for general merriment. Herbert von... »
Listening to Music with David
He got the greatest pleasure having you share a new piece of music, a recently discovered interpretation, a revived antique recording. As a listening companion, it was made clear from the beginning that my responses could only run parallel to his, that I was there to share, and not to ask for further explanation... »
Camerimage 2004
David received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. The T-Shirt that year quoted David on its front: One tries not to fuck it up. Below are snaps of David’s friends, Peter Macdonald and Madelyn Most at Lodz. Daniel Barenboim “Shortterm thinking, or even worse, thoughtlessness, makes many people think that culture, education and the arts are there... »
Glyndebourne
Keen to share his love of opera… David treated many of his chums to a trip to Glyndebourne… Share/Save »
Visions of Elgar
As an amateur musician and loyal Beulah supporter, David Watkin wrote the following notes for the Visions of Elgar CD booklet: “Poor old Elgar was, like Kipling, enmeshed with the British Empire. Both men deserved better, the two symphonies and the violin concerto may rightly stand besides Brahms: and I have a soft spot for... »