Comments on: Thanks for the music, John

By: James Farrell

James Farrell — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:15:32 +0000

Thanks, Mark. David Tiley’s speculation was right, it seems. What a great thing, though, to be able to keep doing what you love until the batteries run out at 89.

By: Mark Swan

Mark Swan — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:16:56 +0000

As no doubt most readers of this site will have heard, John Cargher’s death was announced today. He was, indeed, one of those voices you could never forget, and he introduced many of us, not necessarily inclined to enjoy opera, to the joys of the human voice. Vale, John Cargher.

By: Flash

Flash — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:59:26 +0000

Just one pedantic point about David Tiley’s post: it was his 2,000th not his 200th Singers of Renown that was repeated as the ‘final’ programme. I make the point only because it underscores the longevity of his programme.

By: Graham Bell

Graham Bell — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:15:07 +0000

James Farrell:

Thank you for this post and for linking his biography [which cleared up the mystery of his Silesian connection ].

Strange. I’ve never been keen on opera and yet, whenever I could, I would listen to John Cargher’s wonderful program.

One of the things I really liked about it was that his comments were always so fair: where a singer was terrific, he said so; where a singer was bloody awful, he said so too but never ever in an offensive manner.

He was eclectic and he certainly expanded my musical horizon.

I shall miss him …. and I do hope he enjoys acclaim and comfort and contentment in his retirement.

By: pablo

pablo — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:09:22 +0000

Thanks James..and thanks John. i used to listen on Sat arvo and then when I heard this strangely familiar voice coming on at around 7 am on a Saturday - actually I never heard the signature beginning so for all I knew JC had been going all night courtesy of a trapped turntable - but the new timeslot was a partial exit.
Cargher set new standards of erudition for me, even at 7 am on a Sat morn. I hope he reconsiders… health willing. Who else wants the timeslot?

By: James Farrell

James Farrell — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:26:39 +0000

Thanks, David. I was going to write an update, but those are my thoughts exactly, so I don’t need to.

By: david tiley

david tiley — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:18:06 +0000

I must admit I had a cry when they played that last ep. In fact, it was a repeat of the 200th ep in 2005.

It ends with a piece of Mephistopheles, an obscure and gigantic opera by Arrigo Boito, in which Margherita rejects Faustus and gains entry into Heaven.

It is a strange exit since it will be followed by specials and compilations for a couple of months. But there won’t be any new material, or rather, no expectation of new material.

Like everyone else, I have heard his long spry battle with old age as his voice has changed. I wish we could have heard it one more time, no matter how frail he has become. I guess the end is near.

By: Nicholas Gruen

Nicholas Gruen — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:55:23 +0000

He’ll be missed. By me at least, and ditto Caroline.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:58:27 +0000

For once I wasn’t surprised by the image that accompanies the voice. A friend and I spread a successful rumour once that Karl Haas (1913-2005) was a 6″ tall African. I like hearing old blokes on radio and miss Alistair Cooke’s, calm and measured ‘Letter from America’. John Hinde was another whose maturity was both soothing and refreshing.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:04:08 +0000

I had a freind at ANU some years ago who was convinced he was actually a vampire. But a nice one.