Michael Edgar Oliver (20 July 1937 – 1 December 2002) was a BBC broadcaster, writer and journalist on classical music.
Born in Hammersmith, the son of a music-loving plumber,[1] Oliver was educated atSt Clement Danes Grammar School, then in North Kensington, atIsleworth Polytechnic and at theLondon School of Printing.[2] As aconscientious objector, rather than performnational service Oliver opted to work in a hospital, both in the mortuary and the kitchen. Later, as a member ofCND, he was arrested during a demonstration, and for refusing to pay the fine spent some time inBrixton Prison.[1]
Before becoming a broadcaster, he pursued, as he put it, "a dozen other trades and professions" during the 1950s and 60s including selling radiators, and working for theCambridge University Press while spending as much time as possible attending concerts. His other occupation was librarianship.[2]
Oliver presentedBBC Radio 3'sMusic Weekly programme (1975–90), and also was a presenter ofBBC Radio 4'sKaleidoscope (1974–87).[3][4] The author of several books, including biographies ofIgor Stravinsky andBenjamin Britten, he was also a regular contributor toThe Gramophone,Classic CD,Classic Record Collector andBBC Music Magazine. He was also founding editor ofInternational Opera Collector, a subsidiary ofThe Gramophone, started in 1996 but closed after only 13 issues, as a consequence of the sale of all the Gramophone magazines in July 1999.[1]
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