Prince Philip 1921-2021

[cloughie]

Kieran Hodgson, today's guest on Private Passions, claims he was told by a member of the LSO that Edward Heath was an absolutely awful conductor and the orchestra just played on while pretending to pay attention to him.

I wouldn’t disagree with that but he liked his music, and was an enthusiastic amateur and I think that Previn had a good run through Cockaigne Ov before letting Ted loose with the LSO.

[visualnickmos]

I'm sure I can't be the only individual who was offended at Prince Andrew being given air time on the BBC lunchtime news. Surely the Royal Family could have found someone else to give comment or is this bring seen as an opportunity to begin his public 'rehabilitation?'

He deserves NO rehabilitation. He is an impervious stain on the monarchy.

[Richard Barrett]

the orchestra just played on while pretending to pay attention to him.

I heard the same thing from a cellist in a well known orchestra about a very well known conductor. So I'm not sure that really proves anything about Edward Heath. He must have seemed like a pretty awful prime minister back in the day though, I say seemed because of course most of his successors have been (and indeed are) so much more awful it beggars belief.

[Bryn]

I wouldn’t disagree with that but he liked his music, and was an enthusiastic amateur and I think that Previn had a good run through Cockaigne Ov before letting Ted loose with the LSO.

:
Somewhere, I have a 'rare unsigned copy' of Heath's 1976 book: Music, a Joy for Life.

[cloughie]

:
Somewhere, I have a 'rare unsigned copy' of Heath's 1976 book: Music, a Joy for Life.

When you say ‘rare unsigned’ is that because most of them were signed?

[Bryn]

When you say ‘rare unsigned’ is that because most of them were signed?

Well, that was Private Eye's quip of that time. He did hold a whole host of signing sessions.

[vinteuil]

... Edward Heath. He must have seemed like a pretty awful prime minister back in the day though, I say seemed because of course most of his successors have been (and indeed are) so much more awful it beggars belief.

... yes - odd how one can now look back almost fondly at and with a certain respect for various Prime Ministers who at the time seemed absolutely abysmal. Compared with the current (and recent) shower/s they seem in retrospect almost 'statesmanlike'

.

[Katzelmacher]

I heard the same thing from a cellist in a well known orchestra about a very well known conductor. So I'm not sure that really proves anything about Edward Heath. He must have seemed like a pretty awful prime minister back in the day though, I say seemed because of course most of his successors have been (and indeed are) so much more awful it beggars belief.

ERGH’s recording of the Beethoven Triple Concerto is highly rated by many, including the authors of the Penguin Guide. I’ve never heard it, though.

Heath was a ‘hobby’ conductor, who wouldn’t have got gigs if he hadn’t been a high profile politician. He once stated that he would have loved to have conducted Fidelio, but knew it would only ever be a pipe dream. Of course, if he was alive today, the Wagners would have signed him up for a Ring cycle at Bayreuth.

He was not considered a successful PM by either the electorate or his party - and only won in 1970 because the Labour vote stayed at home.

That said, he looks better in retrospect, because of the inept and bungling character of so many of his successors - particularly the fetid skid-mark in human form that currently sullies the office of PM:

https://youtu.be/7Gh9UsI_5Eg

[Katzelmacher]

Re: Philip’s tastes in music. He didn’t like orchestral music much, but he did like jazz and was personally acquainted with both Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

I can his other musical tastes ranging all the way from Ketelbey to Coates, though.

[LMcD]

... yes - odd how one can now look back almost fondly at and with a certain respect for various Prime Ministers who at the time seemed absolutely abysmal. Compared with the current (and recent) shower/s they seem in retrospect almost 'statesmanlike'

.

So the Pitts weren't the pits then.
(I used to work in the former residence of the only UK Prime Minister to be assassinated - which has proved very useful on more than one quiz night).

[Serial_Apologist]

So the Pitts weren't the pits then.
(I used to work in the former residence of the only UK Prime Minister to be assassinated - which has proved very useful on more than one quiz night).

You must be very, very old then!

[LMcD]

You must be very, very old then!

He were always good to me, were Spencer, but the family that moved in after ...
(I decided to edit my avatar so as to remind me of the happy time before that fateful day when he set off for the House of Commons)

[cloughie]

You must be very, very old then!

Pitt was younger!

[LMcD]

Pitt was younger!

We were all younger once.

[eighthobstruction]

... yes - odd how one can now look back almost fondly at and with a certain respect for various Prime Ministers who at the time seemed absolutely abysmal. Compared with the current (and recent) shower/s they seem in retrospect almost 'statesmanlike'

.

....who, who, who would be in the frame if we were a Republic and needed to name a El Presidento....