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Sir Ernest Hall

Sue Lawley's castaway is businessman and musician Sir Ernest Hall.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the businessman Sir Ernest Hall.

His life is like a fairytale. From a sickly boy, living in the one room he and his family shared, he became a successful businessman and millionaire - and all because of an inspirational piece of music. Today on the site of an old carpet factory in Halifax, he's brought together his two loves - business and the arts - to form an environment in which plastic-bag manufacturers and building societies draw inspiration from the painters and sculptors who work alongside. At the age of 68 he has also realised his ambition to be a professional pianist.

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

Favourite track: Piano Trio in B Major by Franz Schubert
Book: The collected works by William Blake
Luxury: Piano

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 1 May 1998 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Sir Terry Frost

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Susan Blackmore

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Music Played

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor

    Soloist: Sergei Rachmaninov Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra Conductor: Eugene Ormandy

    • Rachmaninov plays Rachmaninov.
    • RCA Victor.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Franz Schubert

      Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major

      Soloist: Alfred Cortot, Jacques Thibaud and Pablo Casals

      • Piano Trios by Beethoven and Schubert.
      • EMI.

  • Ferruccio Busoni

    Piano Concerto (Op 39)

    Soloist: John Ogdon Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Busoni Piano Concerto.
    • EMI.

  • Alban Berg

    Lulu Suite -1st movement

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

    • Vienna.
    • Mercury.

  • Bobby Wellins

    I'm A Fool To Want You

    Artist: Colin Purbrook, Dave Green & Clark Tracey

    • The Satin Album.
    • Jazzizit.

  • Gegrusst sei, teurer Held (from GΓ¶tterdΓ¤mmerung)

    Soloist: Deitrich Fischer-Dieskau Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic

  • Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op. 39

    Soloist: Sir Ernest Hall

  • Steely Dan

    Black Cow

    • Aja.
    • MCA.

  • Book Choice

    • The collected works - William Blake

  • Luxury Choice

    • Piano

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir Ernest Hall

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Apr 1998 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 1 May 1998 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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