Growing up, my dad played the piano. He just had an ear and could play anything after hearing it, which was pretty amazing. Back in the 50s and 60s, people always seemed to have pianos in houses so he would sit down to play it at parties. My dad had various businesses, including electrical stores, so we always had the newest radiograms. My parents were children of World War II, so their favourite music was that 40s swing stuff.

Philip Bacon

I did begin developing an interest in classical music as I got older. I was never really interested in pop music. It was the era of musicals, and I loved listening to the LPs we had in the house of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Carousel. But one of my earliest proper memories of great music was when Sutherland, Bonynge and Pavarotti came to Brisbane to perform at the old Her Majesty’s. I...