In 1997 I worked with Peter Donaldson at the BBC’s Studio 1, Maida Vale, on a radiophonic work that I had composed with the Spanish artist Juan Muñoz called A Man in a Room, Gambling, which was related to the shipping forecast. Peter introduced the three concerts and read the notes on each piece with characteristic grace and good humour. At the end of each concert he said: “And now, for those listeners who were unable to hear it at ten to six, here is the shipping forecast issued by the Meteorological Office for today...” And for five memorable minutes each night he read the forecast in full. Peter had never before read it to 200 people, been enthusiastically applauded or taken a bow when he finished. He looked beatific, and the entire audience left with smiles on their faces.
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