Maestro saves the day at U.K. nuptials

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This article was published 14/08/2009 (6257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FORMER Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra conductor Bramwell Tovey is being hailed as a hero to brides everywhere in his native England.

Tovey, currently music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, cracked the pages of London’s newspapers this week after he saved the day at a Norwich wedding where the scheduled pianist was caught in a traffic jam.

The world-renowned conductor not only readily agreed to perform while Lucy Stubbs married her partner of two years, Sam Taylor, he played the music she requested from memory without any sheet music — including, of course, the Wedding March — all on a grand piano in his shorts and a casual top.

Pondering the simple but kind gesture a few days later, Tovey admitted Thursday night he’s been blown away by all the fuss.

"I’m gobsmacked that this is a story," he said with a laugh, by telephone from his home in Vancouver. "But it’s good publicity for classical music.

"It’s certainly nice to be able to help people. The idea of a bride going down the aisle to silence is not conducive to a happy future, is it?"

Tovey was in the East Anglia city to perform last Saturday evening with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, of which he is artistic director, when he was asked to fill in for a couple he’d never met.

At the 11th hour, the pianist had phoned the bride to announce a "catastrophe" — that she wouldn’t make it in time to play. An administrator with the youth band, in a nearby hall preparing for the concert, contacted Tovey, who was on his way to the city from London.

The request was met with a resounding "yes" — but the maestro admits he needed some directions to get there. And the clock was ticking.

"I had about 20 minutes before the ceremony. Norwich is an old labyrinth (of roads), up and down hills, but they talked me into town by phone. I got there with a few minutes to spare," he recalled. "I wanted to change, but they said there wasn’t time. All the guests were assembled, so I went in with my old shirt and shorts on."

Tovey said the couple asked him to play an old Cole Porter song, Night and Day, but left the rest of the selections up to him.

"They wanted love songs," he said. "So I played some Gershwin, some Rachmaninoff. And I played the traditional Wedding March. The whole thing lasted about 25 minutes.

"It was an ancient hall, part of a monastery or something. Maybe 60 guests. It wasn’t the Hollywood Bowl or the Winnipeg concert hall, but it was all very moving. The bride looked gorgeous, all the relatives were nattily dressed and there was me in my shorts."

According to a report in the British newspaper, The Telegraph, the couple was ecstatic afterwards. "He was just fantastic," Taylor was quoted as saying. "He walked in, lifted up the lid and began playing, almost as if it had all been planned."

Tovey, 56, said being underdressed was a bit unnerving.

"It was like this recurring nightmare I have where I’m conducting the New York Philharmonic and they are all wearing tuxedos and I am in my pyjamas."

The couple did not know Tovey’s credentials until a day or two after the wedding. But a quick Google search gave them quite an education.

Tovey emigrated to Canada in 1988 to take the post of music director of the WSO. He stayed in Winnipeg until 2001, when he moved to the VSO. He is a regular guest conductor with such orchestras as the New York and Los Angeles philharmonics. Among his numerous awards is a 2008 Grammy, which he shares with Brandon-born violinist James Ehnes.

A link to the story in the U.K’s Daily Mail newspaper was posted on the Bramwell Tovey Appreciation Society Facebook page.

"I’m the bride Mr. Tovey came to the rescue of," Lucy Taylor posted. "I just can’t say how grateful I am that you stepped in and made our already wonderful day that bit more special. Thank you. "

Her new husband was just as bubbly.

"This man is an absolute genius. He saved my wedding day (after) my pianist was stuck in traffic and he came through and played the most beautiful music. Mr. Tovey, sir, you are a legend. I am eternally grateful!!" Sam Taylor wrote.

morley.walker@freepress.mb.ca
jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca