Recollections, From The Lone Ranger to Rigoletto

"Chris O’Reilly encourages us to recall ‘memories of key moments when music transformed us’. In my case, it could be the Robert Merrill/Jussi Björling recording of Rigoletto, given to me for my fifth birthday and instilling a love of Verdi, bel canto, all things Merrill and Björling, and opera in general. It could be my discovery, as an 18-year old student and short of money, of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Rafael Kubelík and the Bavarian Radio forces, on a long-play DG cassette. I had never heard of Mahler, only bought it for the sheer value of twice the music for the price of a single LP or cassette...and ended-up loving this composer - and particularly this symphony - with a passion only recognisable in fellow Mahlerians!

However, there is one outstanding moment which probably defined some 70 years of music-listening...and a collection which consists of several thousand CDs, downloads, music DVDs, LPs and tapes:

At the age of three or four - with The Lone Ranger a weekly TV highlight - I distinctly remember my father continually playing Rossini’s William Tell overture time and time again; I later discovered that it was the Toscanini/NBC recording...no wonder I enjoyed it! It was on ’78s and my Dad was astute enough to make me wait in three-year-old fidgety anticipation, carefully checking my cowboy hat and six-shooters (yes – I had a cowboy suit – my Dad was American!), but listening to and absorbing the body of the music.

Finally, with great aplomb and showmanship he put on side 4...the march!...and I was allowed to leap onto my trusty steed and yell “Hi Yo, Silver, awaaaay!” before galloping “over the plain” in search of adventure. My horse Silver was, of course, the outsize footstool in our lounge (the “plain”), but a perfectly adequate substitute. The trumpets blared, the Big Tune took off - never more exciting than with Toscanini - and this cowboy was indeed “awaaaay!”, bouncing up and down on Silver the footstool! This was a ritual performed at least three times a week.

Rossini led to Prokofiev (Peter and the Wolf), Verdi, Donizetti, Puccini (soppy...until I fell in love at 16), Beethoven, Holst (of course!), Wagner, Brahms and Mahler came later, and gradually “the rest”...my musical future was assured, and at the age of 72 I’m still discovering new works! But it was that first recording of the Rossini which paved the way...and guess what? My children got the same treatment!

So: “Hi Yo, Silver, awaaaay!”" - Richard Inverne

If you have an interesting tale behind a much-loved recording (ideally one that's still available!), we would love you to share it with us in between 300-500 words; please send your submissions to letters@prestomusic.com. Stories that are selected will receive a £30 voucher.