James May - Champion of Radio 3

[Pianorak]

I'll try and corner him when I see him at the flying club. James is a more than capable pilot!

[eighthobstruction]

Look out, their [Top Gear] idea of entertainment might be the LSO in a double-decker bus jumping 20 caravans....

[salymap]

The old LSO that I knew would probably enjoy that. I think the first cello who drove a very nifty Jeep was in the LSO; that or the BBCSO. Willem de Mont by name.

[pastoralguy]

I'll try and corner him when I see him at the flying club. James is a more than capable pilot!

Wasn't there a violinist in the Philharmonia who had been a pilot during the Second World War? I believe it was he who challenged Karajan on his behaviour leading the Maestro to reconsider his position with the Orchestra.

[salymap]

Clem Relf, who was with the early Philharmonia for many years, was in one of the Services, captured, and had to work on the infamous Railway as a POW. A bit hazy about the details, was it in Burma? He would have faced up to Karajan or anyone.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I remember that Top Gear programme when Jezza and Hammond jammed James May's car stereo so that it only played very loud rock music, which he could not turn off. What meanies!

[cloughie]

I'll write and ask him

Surely, the answer is blindingly obvious: play classical music on Top Gear which is what they listen to (RW is coordinator for classical music across the BBC - so he could push for it!).

Be careful what you wish for - Hoe Down, Bolero and Moldau on Top Gear?

[Frances_iom]

Be careful what you wish for - Hoe Down, Bolero and Moldau on Top Gear?

maybe he could persuade his copresenter that Maxwell Davies "The Lighthouse" might be suitable

[Anna]

I've never watched Top Gear but James May seems to be quite sensible. Did he not do, some years back, a series on wine with Oz Clarke? I think, from what I have heard here, he could be offered a Saturday Classics spot? May be a lot better than the previous (Simon Heffer excepted)

[french frank]

Be careful what you wish for - Hoe Down, Bolero and Moldau on Top Gear?

Short Ride in a Fast Machine, more like. Well, it was just a thought . But I did think JM's answer was quite a good one, though I'm not sure he would have heard a talk lately on Radio 3 on the music of Scriabin. Perhaps he does need to be ... brought up to speed.