Radio Review: 13 September

Many popular radio shows share common DNA . Moira Stuart’s Jazz Guitar Greats is basically a guitar-focused version of Radio 3’s old Jazz Legends series with a different presenter. Meanwhile, Radio 3’s Private Passions is a close relative of Desert Island Discs, and like its venerable counterpart, looks like it could run for as long as radio exists as a medium, having already notched up 18 glorious years with composer Michael Berkeley in the host’s chair.

Last week, dancer and choreographer Gillian Lynne – perhaps most famous for her work on the musical Cats – chose her favourite pieces, and it was, even by the series’ high standards, a smashing hour of wireless. Her success was inspired by the tragic early death of her mother in a car crash. She began dancing professionally at the age of 14, in 1940. Yes, Lynne is 87, but could pass easily for 20 years younger.

Berkeley asked her what it was like beginning her career in London as bombs rained down. ‘You know, it’s an awful thing to admit,’ she replied, ‘but it was exciting.’ Lynne chose Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto because it reminded her of those heady youthful times at the centre of great danger. Of course, to anyone who’s read Spike Milligan’s war memoirs, it can only ever be known as The Bloody Awful Warsaw Concerto, even if you quite like it, as I do.

Asking Lynne about her teenage years, training under Ninette de Valois, Berkeley observed that de Valois was known for being hard on her dancers. Lynne’s reply was priceless: ‘So everybody but me thought… I loved the woman. She was witty, clever, powerful and brave.’ That same description could easily be applied, in every last detail, to Lynne herself.

Private Passions, BBC Radio 3, Sundays at noon. For past shows: www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/r3pp
Follow Louis on Twitter: @LFBarfe or email him at wireless@cheeseford.net