Claude-Michel Schonberg
Sue Lawley's castaway is composer Claude-Michel Schonberg.
Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the composer of the hit musicals Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, Claude-Michel Sch枚nberg. Claude-Michel always knew he would be a composer. As a small boy growing up in Brittany he would play the piano and compose pieces for his mother. He dreamt of getting away from his little village on the French coast and going to live in Paris and compose operas.
To please his mother Claude-Michel went to University to study mathematics, but whilst he was there he formed a band and began writing songs. They caught the attention of an EMI A&R man which resulted in two singles and a job for Claude-Michel as an A&R assistant. Claude-Michel enjoyed a brief career as a pop star, when he had a huge hit in France with Le Premier Pas (The first date) - a song that is still played on the radio there today. During this time he had met lyricist Alain Boublil who had been impressed with his pop songs and both were keen to take on a bigger project. The result was La R茅volution Fran莽aise which did moderately well in France. The duo perfected their skills when they went on to create the hugely successful musicals Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: Beim Schlagengehen by Richard Strauss
Book: All the Little Live Things by Wallace Earle Stegner
Luxury: Grand piano
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Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg
At the End of the Day
Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer.Artist: Cast of Les Miserables from 10th Anniversary Concert
- Les Miserables in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
- Encore.
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Jacques Offenbach
Elle a fui, la tourterelle (from Tales of Hoffmann)
Soloist: Jessye Norman Choir: Rundfunkchor Leipzig
- Tales of Hoffman.
- Philips.
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Peter Kingsbery
Only The Very Best
- Tycoon.
- Sony.
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Lea Salonga
Too Much For One Heart
- Lea Salonga - Broadway Concert.
- BMG.
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Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns
Mon coeur s'ouvre 脿 ta voix (from Samson and Delilah)
Soloist: Agnes Baltsa & Jose Carreras
- Samson et Dalila.
- Philips.
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Giacomo Puccini
Quanto cielo! (from Madama Butterfly)
Soloist: Maria Callas & Mario Boriello
- Madam Butterfly.
- EMI.
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Les Mis茅rables
Prologue
Artist: London Cast Recording
- Martin Guerre.
- First Night Records.
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Castaway's Favourite
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Richard Strauss
Beim Schlafengehen (from Four Last Songs)
Soloist: Dame Kiri te Kanawa
- Four Last Songs.
- CBS.
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Book Choice
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All the Little Live Things - Wallace Earle Stegner
Luxury Choice
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Grand piano
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Sue Lawley |
| Interviewed Guest | Claude鈥怣ichel Sch枚nberg |
Broadcasts
- Sun 23 Mar 2003 11:15麻豆约拍 Radio 4
- Fri 28 Mar 2003 09:00麻豆约拍 Radio 4
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