Libby Purves meets concert pianist Janina Fialkowska; tailor Edward Sexton; Dolores Payas who translated books written by the travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor and voice coach Gary Catona.
Edward Sexton has been designing and making suits for over 40 years. In 1969 he and Tommy Nutter opened Nutters, the first new establishment on Savile Row for 120 years. Nutters' suits for men and women appealed to the celebrities of the day including the Beatles, Mick and Bianca Jagger, Twiggy and Elton John. Edward, who trained as a master cutter, continues to design stylish and sharply tailored suits from his Knightsbridge studio.
Dolores Payás met the late writer and adventurer Patrick Leigh Fermor in 2009 and translated three of his books into Spanish. The two became great friends and in her book Drink Time! Dolores remembers the days they spent together at his house in Greece towards the end of his life. Drink Time! In the Company of Patrick Leigh Fermor by Dolores Payás is published by Bene Factum Publishing.
Janina Fialkowska is an award-winning concert pianist who is regarded as one of the world's foremost interpreters of Chopin. She started to study the piano as a child and her career was launched after she won Arthur Rubinstein's inaugural Master Piano Competition in 1974. In 2002 she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in her left shoulder which left her unable to move her left limb. She proceeded to learn the concertos and works originally written for the left hand only and transcribed them for her right hand. Her new CD, Chopin Complete Mazurkas, is released on ATMA Classique. She is performing at Wigmore Hall and is touring with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Gary Catona describes himself as a vocal builder. He has worked with a range of performers including Andrea Bocelli, Whitney Houston and Seal. His technique involves working the voice muscles to help build a stronger singing and speaking voice. His new show, the Maestro Presents: The Ultimate Diva, is an online talent show which aims to find and train the next great diva. The Ultimate Diva goes online in 2015.
Producer: Annette Wells. Show less