Clarinet Quintet
Gervase de Peyer
Melos Ensemble
EMI CDM7 63116-2

While I was a boy chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, I started to learn the clarinet. I remember playing the slow movement of this piece when I was 12 years old, and years later, while I was a student at Magdalen, I played the quintet accompanied by fellow students and also by the then-President of Magdalen on the cello, whose fingers were so large it was almost impossible for him to play semitones!

MAHLER

Symphony number 5
Wiener Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein
DG 431 037-2

Memories of my days at Magdalen College, Oxford. This is where my love of Mahler began—sheer passion and here conducted by one of the most amazing personalities of our century.

SCHUBERT

Die Schöne Mullerin
Ian Partridge,
Jennifer Partridge
EMI CDFP 4672

I was taught singing by Ian Partridge; his knowledge and understanding of lieder, and in particular Schubert, is breathtaking. He is a very special man, who is now not only a very good friend but also someone I have had the great pleasure to conduct on many occasions.

BRITTEN

Death in Venice
EOG · Bedford
Decca 425 669-2

When I left Oxford, I began my professional career as a singer and became a member of the English Music Theatre Company. Thus my love for the music of Benjamin Britten was highlighted by the influence of Peter Pears, Steuart Bedford and the producer, Colin Graham. My operatic debut was to be at the Royal Opera house, Covent Garden, in Death in Venice.

SHEPPARD

Libera nos
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers
Hyperion CDA66259

While I was a student at Oxford, I was introduced to the glories of Tudor music; my tutor was David Wulstan, whose total dedication to editing the works of John Sheppard made me eager to perform and record as much of it as possible. This music was to be the grass roots of my forming The Sixteen, and Sheppard’s first setting of Libera nos is one of the finest pieces of the Renaissance. It also reminded me of the fabulous singing of The Sixteen, and the wonderful friendship of the group. It was also as a result of singing Tudor music that I met my wife. We both sang with The Tallis Scholars in the very early years of the group when it numbered more like 20 rather then the select ensemble it is now.

STRAVINSKY

Symphony of psalms
London Symphony Orch.
Leonard Bernstein
SONY SMK 47628

I just love the music of Stravinsky, and this work, dedicated to the glory of God, is for me so exhilarating that I could not be without it.

BACH

St Matthew Passion
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner
Archiv 427 648-2

While I was a student at Oxford, I remember loathing Bach. What a misguided youth I was. Now 20 years on, I am beginning to understand his music. I toured the Matthew Passion last year for the first time and knew that every time I would perform or listen to the work I would be aware of something new. Bach is a true genius.

HANDEL

Samson
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers
Collins 70382

One of the delights of having one’s own group is being able to make music not only with some of the best musicians and singers around but also with people who are now some of my best friends. This disc has a very special cast, and I will always treasure it, especially for Michael George’s singing of Manoah’s aria How willing my paternal love.

ELTON JOHN

Candle in the wind
BR Music BRCD 14

What a great song; this happens to be my favourite, and since it’s on the same disc as Your song, which my wife adores, I consider myself a very lucky man.

BOYZONE

Love me for a reason
Polydor 527 801.4