The 5-Minute Interview: James Galway, Flautist
'Governments should be imposing sanctions to lower emissions'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.James Galway, 67, knighted in 2001, is performing with The London Mozart Players at Portsmouth Guildhall on 12 December, Birmingham Symphony Hall on 13 December and London Cadogan Hall on 17 December
If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...
Listening to a friend playing a new recording of a Mozart Quartet in B major. And I'm ordering a talking book, Charles Dickens' Dombey and Son.
A phrase I use far too often is ...
"What's happening?" I say that to the people in my office.
I wish people would take more notice of ...
Global warming and the greenhouse effect. Governments should be imposing sanctions to lower the emissions.
I'm not a politician but ...
I'd try to organise the emissions.
The most surprising thing that ever happened to me was ...
Getting a knighthood.
A common misperception of me is ...
I spend 99 per cent of my time playing regular flute concertos. People think I go around playing "Annie's Song".
My favourite pieces for playing ...
CPE Bach's concerti. It's such spectacular music; it presents a real challenge.
The ideal night out is ...
To have dinner with my wife and at home. She's very good company.
I'm good at ...
Tinkering with things and getting them to work. My wife used to ask me to fix things before dinner and dinner would be put on hold until I fixed it.
But I'm very bad at ...
Keeping organised.
You know me as a musician, but in a truer life I'd have been a ...
I started as a piano tutor. Once I've mastered something, that's it. I haven't yet mastered the flute.
The best age to be is ...
I'd like to be about 40. I met my wife 23 years ago.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:
Stick to the Ten Commandments, and you save yourself a lot of trouble.
Elisa Bray
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments