Derek Paravicini is a blind, autistic savant and musical prodigy. He played for the late Princess Diana and has featured in numerous television documentaries about his life, including Channel 5’s Extraordinary People and Stan Lee’s Superhumans.
He will open this year’s wonderful Tetbury Music Festival, which takes place from September 28 to October 6. We caught up with him for a quick chat about his incredible life.
I understand that you can play any piece of music after hearing it once, which is an exceptional gift! Can you tell me how and when you first discovered this?
The very first person to notice I had this ability was my sister, Libbet. I was about two years old and my nanny had given me a toy piano from Woolworths.
I had been to church earlier in the day, and when we came home, Libbet heard me playing a hymn that we had sung together in church. That was the first time anyone realised I was able to hear something and then play it back on my piano.
I did that for a couple of years, just playing things that I heard. I taught myself, and played with my fingers, elbows and nose… not being able to see, of course, I’d never seen anyone play, so I didn’t know how it was supposed to be done!
I didn’t have lessons until I was about four. That’s when I met Adam Ockelford, who is Professor of Music at the University of Roehampton. He took me under his wing, gave me lessons, sorted out my technique, and stopped me using my nose and elbows!
Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av Cotswold Life.
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Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av Cotswold Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Gloucestershire After The War
Discovering the county’s Arts and Crafts memorials of the First World War
THE WILD SIDE OF Moreton-in-Marsh
The days are getting shorter but there’s plenty of reasons to be cheerful, says Sue Bradley, who discovers how a Cotswolds town is becoming more wildlife-friendly and pots up some bulbs for an insect-friendly spring display
Mr Ashbee would approve
In the true spirit of the Arts & Crafts Movement, creativity has kept the Chipping Campden community ticking over during lockdown
The Cotswolds at war
These might be peaceful hills and vales, but our contribution to the war effort was considerable
Trust in good, local food
‘I’ve been following The Country Food Trust’s activities with admiration since it was founded’
Why Cath is an open book
Cath Kidston has opened up almost every nook and cranny of her Cotswold idyll in a new book, A Place Called Home. Katie Jarvis spoke to Cath ahead of her appearance at this year’s Stroud Book Festival STROUD BOOK FESTIVAL – THIS YEAR FREE AND ONLINE: NOVEMBER 4-8
From the Cotswolds to the world
Most people know that the Cotswolds have featured in a fair few Hollywood movies and TV series.
The Wild Hunt
In search of the legendary King Herla in the Malvern Hills
Fighting spirit amid the flowers
Tracy Spiers visits Warwick, a beautiful town that is open for business and ready to welcome visitors
Final journey
Cheltenham author and volunteer on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR), Nicolas Wheatley, recounts the fascinating story of funeral trains