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Brian Moore

In an emotional and highly personal interview, former rugby international Brian Moore tells Michael Berkeley about the role music has played during his extraordinary life.

In an emotional and highly personal interview, the former rugby international Brian Moore tells Michael Berkeley about the role music has played during his extraordinary life.

Brian is a man of many parts – nicknamed ‘the pitbull’ for his fiercely competitive attitude on the rugby field, he won 64 England caps, playing in three world cups, and in the sides which won three Five Nations grand slams. He toured twice with the British Lions and in 1991 he was voted Rugby World Player of the Year.

But he’s also had a parallel career as a City solicitor, is much in demand as a rugby commentator, has written for newspapers not just about sport but wine too, is a passionate fan of Tolkien and Shakespeare, writes books, loves motorbikes and skiing, and even trained as a manicurist when his then wife opened a nail bar in Soho.

In a moving tribute to his 92-year-old adoptive mother, Brian chooses her favourite music, by Mendelssohn, and we hear the Overture from The Nutcracker, which he’s seen every year since he was 17 and now shares with his own daughters. We also hear the Mozart aria that convinced Brian it was the right time to retire from rugby.

Unafraid to talk openly about his personal lows as well as his sporting highs, Brian reflects on the power music has over his emotions. Indeed, one piece proves to be totally overwhelming and he has to leave the studio while it is playing.

Producer: Jane Greenwood
A Loftus Media production for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3

Available now

37 minutes

Last on

Sun 11 Jul 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Overture: The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
  • William James Kirkpatrick

    Will Your Anchor Hold

    Performer: Paul Trepte. Choir: Ely Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Konichi.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Der Holle Rache (The Magic Flute)

    Singer: Natalie Dessay. Orchestra: Les Arts Florissants. Conductor: William Christie.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto no.21 in C major (1st mvt)

    Performer: Yeol Eum Son. Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
  • Samuel Barber

    Adagio

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Overture: The Nutcracker

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
  • Pietro Mascagni

    Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana)

    Orchestra: Dresdner Philharmonie. Conductor: Marek Janowski.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 30 Aug 2020 12:00
  • Sun 11 Jul 2021 12:00

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