Main content

Leonard Slatkin

Sue Lawley's castaway is conductor Leonard Slatkin.

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the conductor Leonard Slatkin. An American, he is about to take on the mantle of chief conductor of the 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra.

Renouned for his championing of both the American and British cannons, his aim has always been to demystify music of all kinds. He has spun discs on a pirate radio station and played honky tonk piano in a jazz bar. His parents' Hollywood String Quartet was the best known band in town and the Slatkin household was often filled with film stars. From these two influences he developed his love of chamber music and a passion for Doris Day. 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: Danny Boy by Percy Grainger
Book: Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
Luxury: Wine

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 28 Apr 2000 09:00
大象传媒 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Sir Anthony Caro

Next

Sir Peter Bonfield

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Frank Sinatra

    In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning

    • In the Wee Small Hours.
    • Capitol.

  • The Hollywood String Quartet

    Sehr Ruhig (Stanza 5)

    • The Hollywood String Quartet.
    • Testament.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor

    Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Serge Koussevitzky

    • The Heifetz Collection Vol. 4.
    • RCA.

  • The Singers Unlimited

    The Fool On The Hill

    • Compact Jazz.
    • MPS Records.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

    Performer: Alexander Gavrylyuk. Orchestra: 大象传媒 Philharmonic.

    Soloist: Leon Fleisher Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra

    • Great Pianists of 20th Century.
    • Philips.

  • Michel Camilo

    Why Not?

    • Why Not?.
    • Electric Bird.

  • Terry Riley

    A Rainbow in Curved Air

    • A Rainbow in Curved Air.
    • Columbia.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Percy Grainger

      Danny Boy

      Orchestra: St.Louis Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Slatkin

      • Leonard Slatkin: Saint Louis.
      • Telarc.

  • Book Choice

    • Notes of a Native Son - James Baldwin

  • Luxury Choice

    • Wine

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Leonard Slatkin

Broadcasts

  • Sun 23 Apr 2000 11:15
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Fri 28 Apr 2000 09:00
    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