Dame Fanny Waterman

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010

BBC

Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 804 Ratings

🗓️ 4 July 2010

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Kirsty Young's castaway is Dame Fanny Waterman.

It was during a sleepless night, more than forty years ago, that she came up with the idea of launching a piano competition in Leeds. Since then it's become a world renowned event and been a springboard for many of our most celebrated pianists including Radu Lupu and Murray Perahia.

Although she is now 90 years old, she still teaches masterclasses and continues to be involved with every detail of the competition. "They call me Field Marshal Fanny" she says, "I am a busy breeches."

Record: Radu Lupu- Piano Concerto No.3 Book: The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith Luxury: A grand piano and a stool.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, it's Nicola Cochlin. Young people have been making history for years, but we don't often hear about them. My brand new series on BBC Sounds sets out to put this right. In history's youngest heroes, I'll be revealing the fascinating stories of 12 young people who've played a major role in history and who've helped shape our world. Like Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela,
0:22.4	Louis Braille and Lady Jane Grey, history's youngest heroes with me, Nicola Cochlin. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:30.4	Hello, I'm Kirsty Young. Thank you for downloading this podcast of Desert Island Discs from BBC Radio 4.
0:36.7	For rights reasons, the music choices are shorter than in the radio broadcast.
0:41.2	For more information about the programme, please visit BBC.co.com.ukes slash Radio 4. My castaway this week is Dame Thani Waterman.
1:07.9	It was during a sleepless night more than 40 years ago that she came up with the idea of launching a piano competition in Leeds.
1:15.4	Since then, it's become a world-renowned event and been a springboard for many of our most celebrated pianists.
1:22.2	She was a child prodigy herself, but turned her back on a career on the concert platform to teach.
1:28.4	She has instructed and inspired generations of musicians, and, as she celebrates her 90th birthday,
1:35.0	continues to teach master classes, whilst her piano books sell in their millions.
1:40.3	It's all about listening, she says. I'm very frank. And I have the courage to say what I believe.
1:46.5	You don't stop working because you grow old. You grow old because you stop working.
1:52.1	Dame Fannie Waterman, it's an extraordinary idea. The city almost coming alive with the sound of all these great.
1:58.3	Of course, young musicians, they're under 30 years old
2:01.4	and the competition happens every three years.
2:04.3	It must take meticulous planning.
2:06.7	Have you yourself sort of stepped back from the everyday involvement?
2:09.9	Oh no.
2:10.8	It's like a military operation and people call me Field Marshal Fanny.
2:17.3	I'm busy breeches and I've got to know what's happening on every front.
2:23.2	But I must say that the Yorkshire hospitality is outstanding.
2:29.7	We've got a team of marvellous people who are all volunteers giving their time and help.
	...

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