Richard Adeney 1920 - 2010

[hmvman]

In case anyone else hadn't seen this, the flautist Richard Adeney died on December 16th aged 90. His was a familiar name on many recordings, especially with the English Chamber Orchestra.

I haven't seen any obits yet but maybe I haven't looked in the right places.

[pastoralguy]

Thanks for that. Have you read his auto-biography? Interesting, if a little over-generous about his sex life. (IMHO...!)

[Mary Chambers]

Thanks for that. Have you read his auto-biography? Interesting, if a little over-generous about his sex life. (IMHO...!)

Very entertaining musical gossip, though.

I'm sorry to hear this news

[amateur51]

Very entertaining musical gossip, though.

I'm sorry to hear this news

I thought the musical gossip in his autobiography 'Flute' was very entertaining and enlightening but it was his references to how his standard of playing, the impact of under- and over-confidence on his playing, his depression and his search for the consolations of physical contact with friends and strangers were both honest and enlightening rather than sordid and over-done. He was a gay man at a time when to be so was extremely difficult and he shows us how all this affected his life as a performer. His portrait of Sir John Pritchard, another gay musician, seemed to me to be both affectionate and critical, in other words, honest and rather useful.

Sad news indeed but he lived a long life and I hope he that understood how much pleasure his playing had given to people over the years, the bulk of whom were less likely to have been as critical of his playing than he was himself.

[Steerpike]

I'd like to support amateur51's view. Encouraged by the above promises of a heady(?) mixture of sex and gossip, I bought 'Flute' and have found it compulsive reading over the last few days.

The gossip's fun, I didn't think the sex was overdone and, above all, it was a real insight into the life of a musician and an orchestral player in particular. I highly recommend it as a really good read - he comes across as a very thoughtful man but carries it all lightly.

Cellini, in particular, should read it for Adeney's opinions of conductors - he'll love it!