Charles takes up baton for Camilla: Prince tells how he conducted orchestra as birthday treat

Passion: Charles describes the performance in his new BBC4 documentary about composer Hubert Parry
12 April 2012

Prince Charles has a secret passion for conducting and has even taken the baton for a surprise birthday performance for his wife, Camilla.

The revelation is made in a 90-minute BBC documentary that the Prince has made on Hubert Parry, the composer of Jerusalem and anthems such as I Was Glad which opened Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton.

Watching the BBC Philharmonic rehearse one of Parry's little-known symphonies, Charles tells how he was encouraged to try his hand by conductor Christopher Warren-Green. They met when Warren-Green was violinist with the London Philharmonia of which Charles is patron.

Warren-Green has gone on to conduct at a string of royal events including the Prince's marriage to Camilla and last month's royal wedding. Charles says: "He was very keen I should conduct Wagner's Siegfried Idyll as a birthday present for my wife as a surprise. So some of the Philharmonia came down and we did it as a surprise."

But he admits taking charge for the 20-minute work at his Highgrove home was tough. "Gosh, it was difficult It was extremely embarrassing doing it. The orchestra were very nice about it." However, aides confirmed the Prince, who studied the cello when young, has since taken the baton at a number of private functions.

The film will be shown on BBC4 on May 27. Charles believes Sir Hubert has been "completely swept aside and neglected" despite influencing other English greats such as Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Filming took place before he turned music adviser for his son's wedding.

Charles appears to feel an affinity with Parry who "felt he hadn't actually achieved all he should have done," saying: "I think many of us must think that."

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