Michael Tillett

 

 

Robert Slotover writes: At Rugby school on either side of 1960, Michael Tillett (obituary, 18 March) taught us that there is good in every kind of music. Concerts he took us to in the Coventry Cathedral festival – the world premieres of Britten's War Requiem and Tippett's King Priam, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham – made for the best possible musical education. He introduced me to the music of Hans Werner Henze and Karlheinz Stockhausen, with whom I subsequently worked as an agent – even Michael not having succeeded in making a violinist out of me. I am sure he worked this kind of surreptitious and wise influence on many others.

There is one literally extraordinary occurrence Michael related to me.

He was playing the piano at Dartington for a chorus that had been assembled for a work by Stravinsky and the great man himself was to be present. At a certain moment during this rehearsal Michael said he felt a burning sensation at the back of his neck. He turned round and there was Stravinsky looking directly at him.

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