The second shows the opening ceremony of the 1986 Commonwealth games in Edinburgh which featured Yehudi Menuhin plus Scottish Country dancers and fiddle orchestra.
Peter Knight notes that Vera Simm taught the dancers for the games; apart from Andrew Gilles, Stuart Adam is about the second couple coming on, Francis Gordon from Edinburgh plus several others.
Yehudi was determined to play a solo for the dancing, but the BBC tactfully had the other players. Vera had an urgent call from the BBC to take 8 dancers to the studio where they were rehearsing, so that Yehudi could watch the dancers for the tempo; but he always plays with his eyes shut! (watch him). Vera, being Vera, told him to watch the dancers; the BBC were horrified that she had the temerity to speak to the Maestro like that!
Thanks again to Peter Knight and to Meryl and Ian Thomson for sourcing and making available these lovely films.
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