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Desert Island Discs — Personal Journals
Desert Island Discs

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2023

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Maria Ewing Feb 21, 1999

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the opera singer Maria Ewing. Renowned for her acting ability as much as her voice - she portrayed Carmen as witty, clever and very very dangerous. Her Sheherazade was sexy. While as Salome she brought the audience to the edge of their seats as the last of the seven veils revealed her naked beneath. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Opening of Prelude a L'apres-midi d'un Faune by Claude Debussy Book: Collected Poems by John Donne Luxury: Piano

Nina Cassian Feb 14, 1999

Show notes

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the Romanian poet Nina Cassian. She was forbidden to return home, after a visit to New York, because of her outspoken critisism the Ceaucescu regime. The loneliness of the unwilling exile is often reflected in her work, but so is love, passion and her wicked sense of humour.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Ach Golgatha by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne Luxury: Cigarettes and whisky

Andras Schiff Feb 07, 1999

Show notes

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the pianist Andras Schiff. Born in Hungary, Bartok was the first composer he fell in love with and his music is still a regular part of his repertoire; despite making his fingers bleed. He compares learning a new composition to maturing wine - you can taste it almost immediately but it takes many years to become a vintage performance.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: String Quintet in C - Second Movement by Franz Schubert Book: Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Luxury: Piano

Bill Bryson Jan 31, 1999

Show notes

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the American travel writer Bill Bryson. His inspiration was his father; a great traveller who never quite made it to his intended destination. His best-selling books, Notes from a Small Island and The Lost Continent, chronicle his experiences of facing up to fearsome British landladies and American motels which make the Bates hotel in Psycho look inviting.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: (Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay by Otis Redding Book: The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson Luxury: Basket ball and hoop, and a little hard standing

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Jan 24, 1999

Show notes

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Born in Germany, she came to England as a refugee and moved to India as a young bride where she wrote her first film screenplay in 1961 - in eight days. Since then, she has written over 30 screenplays, all bar one in collaboration with the Merchant-Ivory partnership, including Heat and Dust, A Room with a View and The Remains of the Day.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Sanctus from B Minor Mass by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Luxury: A chaise longue by a window

David Shepherd Jan 17, 1999

Show notes

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the wildlife artist David Shepherd.

Rejected from the Slade Art School on the grounds of having 'no talent whatsoever' he was taught to paint by a man he met at a cocktail party who told him "you're going to be painting for the Inland Revenue, the Gas Board and the school fees." Famed now for his paintings of elephants, he is one of the best-selling artists in the world.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Symphony No. 8 by Gustav Mahler Book: Collection by Beatrix Potter Luxury: Wind-up video player

Clare Hollingworth Jan 10, 1999

Show notes

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the war correspondent Clare Hollingworth. In a career spanning 60 years, her scoops have included identifying Kim Philby as 'the third man' and being the first to spot the massing of German tanks on the Polish border in 1939. She chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Symphony No.8, the 'Unfinished Symphony' by Franz Schubert Book: History of England by G M Trevelyan Luxury: Paper and pens (with thick nibs)

Dave Brubeck Jan 03, 1999

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. One of the most successful musicians of our time, it's nearly 40 years since he famously encouraged us to Take Five, and so changed the sound of jazz forever. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: The Ode To Joy (Symphony No 9) by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: The Spear in the Sand by Raoul C Faure Luxury: Grand piano

David Attenborough Dec 25, 1998

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is Sir David Attenborough. He brought the blue-footed booby into our sitting rooms, and revealed the secret lives of plants. But we remember him best caught in the embrace of a female gorilla.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Adagio from String Quintet in C Major by Franz Schubert Book: Shifts and Expedients of Camp Life by W B Lord Luxury: Guitar

Bob Monkhouse Dec 20, 1998

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the comedian and television host Bob Monkhouse. He began his career as a schoolboy writing jokes for established comedians. Later he became a gag writer for radio. But it was television which made his name. From the Golden Shot to Bob's Full House, he reckons he's hosted more than 27 different shows.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Adagio for Strings, Opus 11 by Samuel Barber Book: The Adventures of Alice by Lewis Carroll Luxury: Clarinet

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