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Peter Hamlyn, neurosurgeon

Michael Berkeley's guest is Peter Hamlyn, the founder and president of the Brain and Spine Foundation, after working as a neurosurgeon for 40 years.

Peter Hamlyn is the founder and president of the Brain and Spine Foundation, after working as a neurosurgeon for 40 years.

He is perhaps best-known for saving the life of the boxer Michael Watson, who suffered a severe brain injury during a title fight in 1991 and was in a coma for 40 days. Peter performed seven brain operations and became a pioneer in the field of sports medicine, campaigning for better care for athletes.

He is now fascinated by how Artificial Intelligence might transform the diagnosis and care of neurological patients.

Peter's music includes Hildegard of Bingen, Berlioz, Handel and Prokofiev.

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55 minutes

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Today12:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (La rondine)

    Singer: Kiri Te Kanawa. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Pritchard.
    • EMI.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67

    Narrator: Billy Guy. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Nikolai Malko.
    • Prokofiev – The Decca Masters.
    • Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd..
    • 1.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Petrushka

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O Vis Aeternitatis

    Ensemble: Sequentia. Conductor: Barbara Thornton.
    • Hildegard von Bingen: Canticles of Ecstasy.
    • Deutsche Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Nocturne in E flat, Op.9 No.2

    Performer: Jan Lisiecki.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique (2nd mvt: Un bal)

    Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique: Jansons.
    • EMI.
    • 3.

  • Kate Bush

    Cloudbusting

    Singer: Kate Bush.
    • Noble & Brite Limited.

  • Claude Debussy

    Des pas sur la neige (Preludes, Book 1)

    Performer: Jean‐Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Debussy: Complete works for piano vol.1: Bavouzet.
    • Chandos.
    • 6.

  • Michael Nyman

    Prawn-watching (A Zed and Two Noughts)

    Ensemble: Michael Nyman Band. Conductor: Michael Nyman.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..

  • Neil Hannon

    Our Mutual Friend

    Ensemble: The Divine Comedy.
    • Parlophone UK.

  • Franz Schubert

    Ellens Gesang 3 (Ave Maria) D.839

    Performer: Dalton Baldwin. Singer: Elly Ameling.
    • Ave Maria Schubert Liede.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 12.

  • Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet in F (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Paganini Quartet.
    • BNF.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Aida (Overture)

    Orchestra: La Scala Philharmonic. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.
    • Verdi: Overtures and Preludes: Muti.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 11.

  • Luigi Boccherini

    La Musica Notturna delle strade di Madrid Op.30 No.6

    Performer: Richard Tognetti. Performer: Timothy Landauer. Performer: Bruce Dukov. Performer: Simon Oswell. Performer: Steve Erdody.
    • Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Music from the Motion Picture).
    • Decca.
    • 014.

  • Scott Walker

    Montague Terrace (In Blue)

    Singer: Scott Walker.
    • UMC (Universal Music Catalogue).

Broadcasts

  • Sun 1 Jun 202512:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Today12:00
    BBC Radio 3

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