Page 127 - Bonhams November 4 2021 Japanese art London

Apparently, I showed an interest in the cello at 4 years old (my family way outside my comfort zone! So in 1968, with some trepidation but
reasoned that music was a more life-giving family tradition than col- great optimism, I left the London Symphony Orchestra to join an elite
lecting marbles). Eventually I started my formal study at the age of 9, group of session musicians. We would in due course play with many
with plenty of encouragement from my father. I won a scholarship, great musicians including Frank Sinatra, Elton John and Mike Batt,
aged 11, to study at the Royal College of Music in South Kensington. as well as laying down the backing music for many Bond films and
In 1962 I won a Foundation Scholarship to study there with Anthony other well-known ones. I was lucky: I was also invited very often by
Pini, where I twice won the Suggia Trust Award for cello, jointly with the BBC to play the music for series such as ‘The Fall and Rise of
the unforgettable cellist the late Jacqueline du Pre. The London Reginald Perrin’ I and (for over 30 years) ‘Last of the Summer Wine’,
Philharmonic Orchestra offered me a position when I was 17, making as well as broadcasting recitals for them; one career highlight came
me the youngest member, a position they very kindly held open for in 1968, my generously-acclaimed debut at London’s Wigmore Hall.
me after I won a French Government scholarship to study with Paul I retired from the all-consuming music industry in 2005, following the
Tortelier in Paris for six months; and finally, aged 19, I joined the Lon- death of my beloved wife. Now it’s time for my collecting passion to
don Symphony Orchestra, again the youngest member. move on, too. I hope my very personal selection will be appreciated
by discerning buyers, and give new owners as much pleasure and
That was exciting for years, a heady career playing the finest classical knowledge about a very different culture, as my collection has given
music in grand venues with world-famous orchestras. But in music, me while I carefully chose each individual member of this group over
as with my collecting, I began to fancy a rather different challenge, the past 15 years.
Christopher Green

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