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Henry Blofeld

Ahead of the first test against India, Michael Berkeley's guest is cricket commentator Henry Blofeld. Includes music by Mozart, Puccini, Schubert, Sullivan and Ravi Shankar.

Ahead of this week's first test against India, Michael Berkeley's guest is cricket commentator Henry Blofeld.

Henry was a very promising young cricketer, but his prospects of a first-class career were ended by a near-fatal accident at the age of seventeen. He eventually found his way to cricket journalism and ultimately to Test Match Special, where he was a mainstay for nearly fifty years, illuminating each match with his forensic knowledge of the game, as well as entertaining listeners with sightings of snoozing policemen, passing buses, and pigeons on the outfield.

But last year Henry Blofeld declared his long innings in the commentary box closed. At his final test at Lords he was given the great honour of ringing the bell for the start of play, which he did attired in one of his signature colourful outfits - an orange shirt, yellow trousers and shoes, a pale green jacket and a yellow patterned bow tie.

In conversation with Michael Berkeley, Henry Blofeld reveals how his accident changed the course of his life, and discusses the difficult decision to retire from broadcasting, and the joy of finding love later in life. He chooses music from Mozart and Puccini which reflects his life-long love of opera; music from Gilbert and Sullivan which reminds him of his Norfolk childhood; a Schubert symphony; and music from Ravi Shankar that recalls the time he almost played for England against India.

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Sun 29 Jul 2018 12:00

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Non piu andrai (The Marriage of Figaro, Act 1)

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini. Singer: Giuseppe Taddei.
  • Arthur Sullivan

    If you're anxious for to shine (Patience)

    Orchestra: D'Oyly Carte Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Sargent. Singer: George Baker.
  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No.8 (Unfinished)

    Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Davis.
  • Burt Bacharach

    This Guy's in Love with You

    Performer: Herb Alpert. Ensemble: Tijuana Brass.
  • Noël Coward

    Mad Dogs and Englishmen

    Performer: Noël Coward.
  • Ravi Shankar

    Dhun

    Performer: Ravi Shankar.
  • Stephen Sondheim

    Send in the Clowns (A Little Night Music)

    Performer: Barbra Streisand.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    E lucevan le stelle (Tosca)

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leone Magiera. Singer: Luciano Pavarotti.

Broadcast

  • Sun 29 Jul 2018 12:00

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