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John Tomlinson

Sue Lawley's castaway is bass opera singer John Tomlinson.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the British bass John Tomlinson. He is most famous as Wotan - ruler of the gods in Wagner's Ring Cycle. In fact, it's a role he has made so much his own that the composer's grandson says it could almost have been written with him in mind. Growing up in a Methodist family music was a natural part of life, yet he studied to be an engineer until the urge to sing became too powerful to ignore.

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

Favourite track: Concerto For Violin And Strings In D Minor Largo by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Flora and Fauna of a Tropical Desert Island
Luxury: A box of lenses

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 23 Jan 1998 09:05

Music Played

  • Wotan's Farewell (from Die WalkΓΌre)

    Soloist: John Tomlinson Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Sebastian Bach

      Concerto for Two Violins in D minor - 2nd movement

      Soloist: David Oistrach Soloist: Igor Oistrach

      • Violin Concertos BWV 1041.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • George Frideric Handel

    His yoke is easy (from Messiah)

    Conductor: Trevor Pinnock Choir: English Concert and Choir

    • The Messiah.
    • Archiv.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Riconosci in quest' amplesso (from The Marriage of Figaro)

    Conductor: Daniel Barenboim Soloist: John Tomlinson

    • Le Nozze Di Figaro.
    • Erato.
  • GΓ¶tterdΓ¤mmerung Act 2 Prelude

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Bernard Haitink

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Act 1 Duet (from Rigoletto)

    Soloist: Renata Scotto, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

    • Rigoletto.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • The Police

    Synchronicity 2

    • Message In A Box.
    • A&M.
  • Selig wie die Sonne (from Die Meistersinger von NΓΌrnberg)

    Soloist: Karita Mattila Conductor: George Solti

  • Book Choice

    • Flora and Fauna of a Tropical Desert Island

  • Luxury Choice

    • A box of lenses

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest John Tomlinson

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 Jan 1998 12:15
  • Fri 23 Jan 1998 09:05

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