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Mary Benson

Sue Lawley's castaway is civil rights campaigner Mary Benson.

This week's castaway on Desert Island Discs grew up in a conventional white South African family. Shielded from the true history of her country under apartheid, she played in the shadow of a Pretoria prison where many hundreds of black men and women were hanged, and never questioned what went on there. Then Mary Benson read the book Cry the Beloved Country. From that moment on, she became a ceaseless campaigner for the rights of black South Africans and dedicated her life to documenting their struggle. This week she talks to Sue Lawley about her search for a purpose to her life and chooses the music which has meant most to her.

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

Favourite track: Eroica Variations Opus 35 Fourth Bagatelles, Opus 126 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: Unpublished Notes by Athol Fugard
Luxury: Telescope

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 21 Feb 1997 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Rigoletto Act 2

    Soloist: Maria Callas Orchestra: La Scala Milan

    • Verdi Rigoletto.
    • EMI.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude & Fugue in E major

    Soloist: Andras Schiff

    • Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      Bagatelles, Op. 126 - No. 4 in B minor

      Soloist: Alfred Brendel

      • Beethoven: Eroica Variations.
      • Philips.

  • Miriam Makeba

    Ngola Kurila

    • The Many Voices Of Miriam Makeba.
    • London.

  • Frank Sinatra

    It's Only A Paper Moon

    • The Great Films And Show.
    • Capitol Records.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor, D958

    Soloist: Alfred Brendel

    • The Art Of Alfred Brendel.
    • Philips.

  • Bob Dylan

    Lay, Lady, Lay

    • Nashville Skyline.
    • CBS.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (from RΓΌckert-Lieder)

    Orchestra: The Lille National Orchestra Soloist: Jose Van Dam

    • Mahler - Kindertotenlieder/Ruckert Liede.
    • Forlane International.

  • Book Choice

    • Unpublished Notes - Athol Fugard

  • Luxury Choice

    • Telescope

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Mary Benson

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 Feb 1997 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 21 Feb 1997 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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