Main content

Lorin Maazel

Sue Lawley's castaway is Lorin Maazel, director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the musical director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra Lorin Maazel.

He was a child prodigy whose career as a conductor has survived, and thrived, beyond his early precocity. His musical talent became apparent at the age of five, when he began playing the violin, while at seven he was discovered conducting a piece by Haydn playing on his parents' record player. He was the first American and youngest conductor, at the age of 30, to conduct Lohengrin at Bayreuth. After a career which has included prestigious posts at the Vienna State Opera and the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, he is currently Musical Director of the New York Philharmonic. In May this year, Lorin Maazel's first opera, an adaption of George Orwell's 1984, will he performed at the Royal Opera House in London.

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

Favourite track: Quartet No 14 'Death and the Maiden' 4th Movement by Franz Schubert
Book: PensΓ©es by Blaise Pascal
Luxury: Vermeer Painting - The Piano Lesson

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 Apr 2005 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Yvonne Brewster

Next

Philippe Petit

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Claude Debussy/Heifetz

    PrΓ©lude (from L'enfant prodigue)

    Soloist: Jascha Heifetz, Arpad Sandor

    • Jascha Heifetz - Recital.
    • EMI Classics.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Ave Maria (from Otello)

    Soloist: Herva Nelli Orchestra: NBC Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Arturo Toscanini

    • Otello - Toscanini Broadcast Legacy.
    • Guild Historical.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Prelude in E major, Op. 11/9

    Soloist: Vladimir Horowitz

    • Horowitz plays Scriabin.
    • RCA Victor Gold Seal.

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor

    Soloist: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor: Ettore Gracis

    • Ravel/Rachmaninov Piano Concertos, Benedetti Michelangeli.
    • EMI.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 3 in E flat major 'Eroica'

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Wilhelm Furtwängler

    • Beethoven Symphonies Nos 1 + 3 'Eroica' Furtwangler.
    • EMI.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Franz Schubert

      String Quartet No. 14 in D minor 'Death and the Maiden' - 4th movement

      Orchestra: Budapest String Quartet

      • Budapest Quartet - Schubert/Dvorak.
      • Novello Records.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Suite for Solo Cello No. 3 in C major - 4th movement

    Soloist: Janos Starker

    • Bach Suites for Solo Cello.
    • Mercury Living Presence.

  • Gabriel FaurΓ©

    Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 63

    Soloist: Wilhelm Kempff

    • Great Pianists of 20th Century Wilhelm Kempff Vol 3.
    • Steinway and Sons.

  • Book Choice

    • PensΓ©es - Blaise Pascal

  • Luxury Choice

    • Vermeer Painting - The Piano Lesson.

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Lorin Maazel

Broadcasts

  • Sun 3 Apr 2005 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 8 Apr 2005 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 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