Main content

Philip Hoare

Michael Berkeley's guest is the writer Philip Hoare, whose books include the prize-winning Leviathan, which drew on his lifelong obsession with whales.

Philip Hoare is an award-winning writer whose books often describe the lure of the sea, the strange and beautiful creatures that live in it and the inspiration artists have found in its murky depths.

His book Leviathan won the Samuel Johnson Prize: it drew on his lifelong obsession with whales, which began with the gigantic skeletons in the Natural History Museum and continued with his own encounters with them at sea.

His most recent book, William Blake and the Sea Monsters of Love, traces Blake鈥檚 enduring influence on numerous poets, writers, film-makers and musicians. He鈥檚 also written about Noel Coward, the British socialite Stephen Tennant and the Netley Military Hospital on Spike Island, near Southampton.

His musical choices including Prokofiev, Britten and Copland.

Producer Clare Walker

14 days left to listen

1 hour, 26 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 May 2025 12:00
蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Emma Rice

Next

Adam Buxton

See all episodes from Private Passions

Music Played

  • Johann Strauss II

    On the Beautiful Blue Danube

    Orchestra: The Vienna Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Alfred Scholz.
    • The Very Best Of Johann Strauss.
    • Stradivari Classics.
    • 1.

  • John Kander

    Willkommen (Cabaret)

    Lyricist: Fred Ebb. Singer: Joel Grey. Conductor: Ralph Burns.
    • Cabaret (Original Soundtrack Recording).
    • Geffen.
    • 1.

  • David Bowie

    Art Decade

    Singer: David Bowie.
    • Low (2017 Remaster).
    • Parlophone UK.
    • 9.

  • Aaron Copland

    Suite from Appalachian Spring: Simple Gifts

    Orchestra: 蜜芽传媒 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Copland: Vol 1 Ballet Suites etc.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • Dr. Roger Payne

    Solo Whale

    Performer: Humpback Whale.
    • Songs of the Humpback Whale.
    • Living Music.
    • 1.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Blow her away (Billy Budd)

    Choir: Gentlemen of the Hall茅 Choir. Choir: Northern Voices. Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • Britten : Billy Budd.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 12.

  • Arvo P盲rt

    Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten

    Performer: Juho Vartiainen. Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean鈥怞acques Kantorow.
    • Summa.
    • BIS.
    • 5.

  • Enoch Mankayi Sontonga

    Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

    Music Arranger: J. Shabalala. Ensemble: Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
    • Favourites.
    • Gallo Record Company.
    • 14.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    March (The Love for Three Oranges - suite)

    Orchestra: S茫o Paulo Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Prokofiev: Orchestral Works.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

  • Caoimh铆n 脫 Raghallaigh

    All Good Things

    Performer: Caoimh铆n 脫 Raghallaigh. Performer: Thomas Bartlett.
    • Caoimh铆n 脫 Raghallaigh & Thomas Bartlett.
    • Real World Records.
    • 3.

  • Neil Tennant

    Being Boring

    Composer: Chris Lowe. Ensemble: Pet Shop Boys.
    • NOW - Yearbook 1990.
    • Now! Music.
    • 19.

Broadcast

  • Sun 18 May 2025 12:00
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

Podcast

  • Private Passions

    Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical loves and hates