Main content

Sir Roger Norrington

Sue Lawley's castaway is conductor Sir Roger Norrington.

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the conductor Sir Roger Norrington. Known for conducting music at a cracking pace, he argues that it's the way the great composers would have played it. Music should be fun, he says, it should entertain - and never, ever, be pompous. He 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: Brandenburg Concerto No.6 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Complete Works by Thomas Hardy
Luxury: Chocolate

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Aug 1999 09:00

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 5 in C minor - 1st movement

    Orchestra: London Classical Players

    • Symphonies No.4 & 5.
    • EMI.
  • John Dowland

    In Darkness Let Me Dwell

    Soloist: Peter Pears and Julian Bream

    • Elizabethan Lute Songs - Volume 1.
    • Decca.
  • Schutz

    Wie Lieblich Sind

    Orchestra: The Schutz Quartet & Choir Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington

    • Cantata Domino.
    • Argo.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major

      Orchestra: The Adolf Busch Chamber Players

      • The Adolf Busch Chamber Players.
      • EMI Classics.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Cosa sento! (from The Marriage of Figaro)

    Soloist: Mirella Freni Orchestra: The 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Sir Colin Davis

    • Le Nozze Di Figaro.
    • Philips.
  • Hector Berlioz

    March to the scaffold (from Symphonie fantastique)

    Orchestra: London Classical Players Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington

    • Symphonie Fantastique.
    • EMI.
  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony No. 1 in A flat major - 3rd movement

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

    • The Elgar Edition.
    • EMI.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Agnus Dei

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Conductor: Benjamin Britten

    • War Requiem.
    • Decca.
  • Book Choice

    • Complete Works - Thomas Hardy

  • Luxury Choice

    • Chocolate

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir Roger Norrington

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 Aug 1999 11:15
  • Fri 20 Aug 1999 09:00

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