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Sir Richard Sykes

Sue Lawley's castaway is businessman Sir Richard Sykes.

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Sir Richard Sykes. The chairman of Glaxo Welcome, as a boy he was not a natural scholar, until he went to work at the pathology laboratory of his local hospital. Understanding the application of science led him to become a research scientist at Glaxo Welcome. He describes how later the Board Room lured him away from the lab, and how he came to mastermind one of the most audacious take-overs in the city.

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

Favourite track: Second Movement from Cello Concerto in B Minor by Antonin DvoΕ™Γ΅k
Book: The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
Luxury: Telescope

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 10 Dec 1999 09:00

Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah)

    Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society Orchestra: Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Malcolm Sargent

    • Messiah.
    • Dutton Laboratories.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major - 2nd movement

    Soloist: Mitsuko Uchida Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra Conductor: Jeffrey Tate

    • Mozart - Piano Concertos.
    • Philips.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin Concerto in D major - 2nd movement

    Soloist: David Oisrakh Orchestra: National French Radio Orchestra Conductor: Andre Cluytens

    • Beethoven / Bruch: Violin Concertos.
    • EMI.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Via, resti servita (from the Marriage of Figaro)

    Soloist: Patricia Johnson and Edith Mathis Orchestra: Berlin Opera Orchestra Conductor: Karl Böhm

    • Le Nozze Di Figaro.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Di Provenza il mar (from La traviata)

    Soloist: Matteo Manuguerra Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Richard Bonynge

    • La Traviata.
    • Decca.
  • Gaetano Donizetti

    E' rimasto la impietrato (from Don Pasquale)

    Soloist: Enzo Dara, Alessandro Corbelli, Luciana Serra and Aldo Bertolo Orchestra: Orchestrra of the Royal Theatre of Turin Conductor: Bruno Campanella

    • Don Pasquale.
    • Nouva Era.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • AntonΓ­n DvoΕ™Γ΅k

      Cello Concerto in B minor - 2nd movement

      Soloist: Jacqueline Dr Pre Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

      • Dvorak & Haydn: Cello Concertos.
      • EMI.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Symphony No. 4 in A major 'Italian' - 1st movement

    Soloist: London Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: James Lockhart

    • Mendelssohn: Symphony No.3 Scottish, Symphony No.4 Italian.
    • Music for Pleasure.
  • Book Choice

    • The Origin of Species - Charles Darwin

  • Luxury Choice

    • Telescope

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir Richard Sykes

Broadcasts

  • Sun 5 Dec 1999 11:15
  • Fri 10 Dec 1999 09:00

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