Main content

Brian Sewell

Sue Lawley's castaway is art critic Brian Sewell.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the controversial art critic Brian Sewell. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about how he did not go to school until he was 11, hated it when he got there, but managed, much against the wishes of the school, to teach himself history of art. He'll also be describing how he felt when his friend and mentor, Sir Anthony Blunt, the Keeper of the Queen's Pictures, was denounced as a spy in 1979. Sewell was thrust into the public eye as Blunt's protector. He's been there ever since - attacking what he regards as the excesses of contemporary art, and attracting much criticism himself as a result of his attitudes.

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

Favourite track: Fidelio Aria - 'Komm Hoffnung' by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: Songs from the 1880s with piano accompaniment by Franz Schubert
Luxury: Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 24 Jun 1994 09:05
大象传媒 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Zoe Wanamaker

Next

John Drummond

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Max Bruch

    Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor - 1st movement

    Soloist: Zino Francescatti Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic Conductor: Thomas Schippers

    • The Great Violin Concertos - Volume 2.
    • Duet 2.

  • Richard Strauss

    Fr眉hling (from Four Last Songs)

    Soloist: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Conductor: Otto Ackermann Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Richard Strauss.
    • HMV.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Porgi, amor (from The Marriage of Figaro)

    Ensemble: Vienna Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor: Riccardo Muti Soloist: Margaret Price

    • Mozart: Opera Arias And Duets.
    • EMI.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      Komm, Hoffnung (from Fidelio)

      Soloist: Christa Ludwig Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Otto Klemperer

      • Beethoven: Fedelio - Ludwig/Vickers/Frick/Berry.
      • EMI.

  • Gaspare Spontini

    La Vestale Aria - 'Tu Che Invoco'

    Soloist: Serafin, Maria Callas Orchestra: Orchestra Of La Scala, Milan

    • L'Art De Maria Callas.
    • EMI.

  • Richard Strauss

    Marie Theres'! Hab' mir's gelobt (Act 3 Trio) (from Der Rosenkavalier)

    Soloist: Lucia Popp / Christa Ludwig / Gwyneth Jones Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonica Conductor: Leonard Bernstein

    • Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier.
    • CBS Masterworks.

  • Richard Wagner

    Liebestod (from Tristan und Isolde)

    Soloist: Kirsten Flagstad Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Wilhelm Furtw盲ngler

    • Wagner: Tristan und Isolde.
    • EMI.

  • Franz Schubert

    Aufl枚sung, D807

    Soloist: Ian Partridge, Jennifer Partridge

    • Schubert's Lieder.
    • Enigma.

  • Book Choice

    • Songs from the 1880s with piano accompaniment - Franz Schubert

  • Luxury Choice

    • Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Brian Sewell

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 Jun 1994 12:15
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Fri 24 Jun 1994 09:05
    大象传媒 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast