Lyric The board
As SJP’s favourite radio station celebrates its 25 years, the voices behind the mics reveal all
IT’S the Irish radio station Sex in the City star Sarah Jessica Parker can’t get enough of. The actress, who has a holiday home in Co. Donegal, recently posted online about her love for RTÉ’s Lyric FM, which next Wednesday, May 1, celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The classical musical station has also proved to be an enduring hit with discerning music lovers,
AEDIN GORMLEY Presenter of Movies and Musicals (Sat) and Adein in the Afternoon (Fri) What is your own favourite genre of music?
MY LOVE of film music goes back to being a kid watching the old black and white films with my dad, who was a major movie buff. I noticed the difference music made to the experience of watching a film.
My love of musicals came from home too, as my parents both starred in local musicals. My Dad went on to direct them and my mother, a professional violinist, played in the orchestra pit.
The top three songs that make you happy, sad, or want to dance.
HAPPY: Feeling Good by Nina Simone. SAD: The Place Where The Lost Things Go from Mary Poppins Returns DANCEFLOOR: Dancing Queen by Abba Your earliest musical memory? OUR house was full of music, so probably hearing my mother playing the violin or singing or one of my siblings playing piano.
Who is the biggest musical hero you’ve met in real life?
STEPHEN Sondheim who wrote the music and lyrics for such musicals as Company, Sweeney Todd, Follies and Into the Woods. I attended his 80th birthday concert in The Lincoln Centre in New York, which was one of the most incredible concerts I’ve ever been to. The man himself was there and I plucked up the nerve to go over to him. I just shook his hand and thanked him for writing such wonderful songs. He was very gracious and friendly, and I floated back to my hotel.
What has been your greatest Lyric FM moment so far?
I get a great kick out of presenting live concerts with The RTE Concert Orchestra and meeting our listeners in person. And I’ve met some amazing guests over the years, those that particularly stand out are Julie Andrews, John Barry and Angela Lansbury. with its eclectic mix of programs. From classical, to folk, to world music and musicals, every taste is covered. We speak to six presenters, some who’ve been with Lyric since the very beginning, others who just recently joined, and ask them about their musical loves.
been any disasters on or off the air?
NO disasters, but I am always conscious of sharing new releases with listeners and in particular new Broadway cast recordings. I feel it’s important to keep musicals alive with a new cast and new interpretations. They don’t always go down well with listeners though, who can find it hard to hear something that is so different to the original.
If any song in the world could be your theme song, what would it be and why?
I’M Still Here by Stephen Sondheim from his musical Follies. It’s a song about survival.
SIMON DELANEY Presenter of Sunday Afternoon with Simon Delaney What is your own favourite genre of music?
BIG BAND/swing/crooners. There are so many performers within that range to choose from, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Ninan Simone, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin and each is a joy to listen to. Closely followed by musical theatre.
The top three songs that make you happy, sad, or get on the dancefloor.
HAPPY: Gee, Officer Krupke from West Side Story. SAD: Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra DANCE FLOOR: The Hand Jive from Grease the Musical, or Soul Bossa Nova from Austin Powers. Your earliest musical memory? I learned to play the guitar in primary school, with Mr Crowley as my teacher. I met him some 30 years later, and he hadn’t changed a bit.
Who is the biggest musical hero you’ve met in real life?
PERFORMING in the NCH with the Concert Orchestra and the RTE big band, where I sang ‘Ain’t that a kick in the head’ by Dean Martin. Boy oh boy, what a sound, what a night.
Also getting to meet and watch Sinead O’Connor in the NCH on
another occasion was truly special.
Your greatest high moment working at Lyric FM so far?
GETTING to sit in the same chair where Gay Byrne sat and presented, in the same time slot, on the same channel, is not lost on me. Gay was a huge influence on me throughout the years, my earliest memories of radio are listening to him with my mam. I feel beyond grateful every time I sit in that chair in the studio.
What have you found hasn’t worked ?
I DID the show live from the BBC Studios in Glasgow for a couple of weeks while I was away filming, and technical gremlins set in, resulting in me sounding like I was doing the show from a landline in 1974. Thankfully it only lasted 20 minutes before the gods shone down upon us and fixed the line.
If any song in the world could be your theme song, what would it be and why?
My Way by Sinatra. He was and is my musical idol. I love the way the song tells the story of a life, fully lived, with no regrets, and that despite countless setbacks and hurdles, you get back on the horse and go again, and ultimately succeed, all while doing it my way.
LORCAN MURRAY Presenter of Lorcan Murray’s Classic Drive What is your own favourite genre of music?
I THINK my love of all music has grown with time, with a definite sway towards rock. AC/DC are in there somewhere. I also have a grá to for Bill Whelan’s Inishlacken Suite.
The top three songs that make you happy, sad or want to dance.
HAPPY: The Doobie Brothers What a Fool Believes is one that certainly makes me happy. SAD: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye sung by Ella Fitzgerald always reminds me of my brother Brendan’s passing. DANCE FLOOR: The Killers’ Human or Coldplay’s Viva la Vida definitely hit the spot every time.
Your earliest musical memory?
MY mum taking a little time out from the seven of us two dogs and the budgie, playing Beethoven’s Fur Elise on the piano.
Your biggest musical hero you’ve met in real life?
INTERVIEWING people from The Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frey to Kylie Minogue and Paul Newman. I did meet Phil Lynott when as a student I worked on Thin Lizzy’s last Irish tour, before Phil died.
Your greatest high moment working at Lyric FM so far?
I THINK I realise the privilege of my listeners allowing me into the lives everyday makes every show a high.
What have you found hasn’t worked – any disasters?
THANKFULLY, so far so good... let’s not tempt fate!
If any song in the world could be your theme song, what would it be and why?
Jule Styne’s song People from the musical Funny Girl, sung by Barbra Streisand. It has a very simple message and sentiment.
LIZ NOLAN
Presenter of The Full Score with Liz
Nolan on RTÉ Lyric FM
What is your own favourite genre of music?
MY happy place is chamber music of the Fin de Siècle in France. It sounds crazy niche, but I just love the way all the arts bled into each other back then.
Poets, musicians and painters living their lives and dreams in cafés and studios. Also, my singing teacher, Deirdre Grier-Delaney — who gave me my love of music — is an expert on French song, so all her kindness and brilliance is bound up in those works for me.
The top three songs that make you feel happy, feel sad or get on the dancefloor.
HAPPY: I’m mad for Tudor madrigalsthink fa la las and nonny nonnys and you’ll get the picture. SAD: I generally well up into tears during Brahms symphonies, the pure sense of earned beauty gets me every time. DANCE FLOOR: I can’t dance for nuts, but if it’s The Kinks All Day all All of the Night, even I’ll make an effort.
musical memory?
FROM around the age of five, I was hauled up to sing for my mother’s friends at her coffee mornings, while she accompanied me. I still remember all the words of Pretty Polly Pillicoat, which I’d tootle out while eyeing up the biscuits.
Who is your biggest musical hero that you’ve met in real life?
TARA ERRAUGHT, the Dundalk mezzo-soprano who has shot to the premier echelon of opera stars today. Even though she’s in top demand the world over, Tara always makes time to come back and perform in Ireland, and to direct masterclass courses for young singers.
What has been your high point of working at Lyric FM during your career so far?
I GET the biggest thrill at the RTÉ Summer Lunchtime Concert broadcasts at the National Concert Hall. To share a stage with our top orchestras is something I never dreamed could happen.
I trained in music myself, and so I’m conscious of the incredible calibre of every one of these musicians. I’m honestly very grateful
to stand alongside them.
What have you found hasn’t worked for you and have you had any disasters on air?
MASSES of technical stuff! Technology is my bugbear, but nothing a bit of a laugh and glossing over wouldn’t fix. If any song in the world could be your theme song, what would it be
and why?