Dame Alicia Markova
Sue Lawley's castaway is ballerina Dame Alicia Markova.
Dame Alicia Markova was born Lilian Alice Marks in December 1910, in a two-bedroom flat in Finsbury Park, London. She began ballet classes because she was flat footed and knock kneed. Her natural talent, when she was ten, was spotted by Diaghilev, the Russian artistic impresario who founded the Ballets Russes and brought the contemporary arts of Russia to Europe. Dame Alicia joined Diaghilev's company, which was based in Monte Carlo, in 1925, a month after her 14th birthday. Diaghilev changed her name to Alicia Markova and cast her in the title role of Nightingale in Le Rossignol, a ballet scored by Stravinsky, choreographed by Balanchine and with costumes designed by Matisse. It premiered in Paris in June 1925.
After Diaghilev's death in 1929 she returned to England and became a leading figure of the emerging English ballet scene, dancing with the Ballet Rambert and Vic Wells Ballet, as well as at Sadlers Wells. Dame Alicia danced the leading roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Giselle, which became her trademark, illustrating her unique style of fragility and strength. In 1950, together with her dancing partner Anton Dolin, Dame Alicia founded The London Festival Ballet which eventually became the English National Ballet. She was still dancing Giselle at the age of 48 and had her last dance on stage in the early 1960s. Subsequently she has worked as director, patron and teacher and was awarded the CBE for services to dance in 1958. Her memory for dance steps has proved invaluable for dance historians, pupils and teachers alike.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: Softly Awakes my Heart from Samson and Delilah by Camille Saint-SaΓ«ns
Book: Speaking of Diaghilev by John Drummond
Luxury: The perfume Knowing by Estee Lauder
Last on
Music Played
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Sleeping Beauty - Act 2
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
- Tchaikovsky: Symphonies No. 4-6.
- EMI.
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Franz LehΓ‘r
The Merry Widow Overture
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
- Franz Lehar conducts Lehar.
- Dutton Laboratories.
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Christoph Willibald Gluck
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (from Orpheus and Euridice)
Orchestra: NBC Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Arturo Toscanini
- Gluck: 'Orefo and Euridice'.
- RCA.
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William Walton
Façade Suite No. 1
Orchestra: HallΓ© Orchestra Conductor: Orwain Arwel Hughes
- Much Loved Music.
- Classics For Pleasure.
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Nutcracker Suite - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: James Levine
- Tchaikovsky: Ballet Suites - Vienna Philharmonic.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
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Giuseppe Verdi
Ritorna vincitor (from Aida)
Soloist: Renata Tebaldi Orchestra: Orchestra de la Suisse Roman
- Tebaldi: The Early Recordings.
- Decca.
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London Symphony Orchestra
Bolero 1830 (Traditional)
- Richard Bonynge Conducts the LSO: Ballet.
- Decca.
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Castaway's Favourite
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Camille SaintβSaΓ«ns
Mon coeur s'ouvre Γ ta voix (from Samson and Delilah)
Soloist: Marian Anderson
- 20 Gramophone All-Time Greats.
- ASV.
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Book Choice
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Speaking of Diaghilev - John Drummond
Luxury Choice
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The perfume Knowing by Estee Lauder
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Sue Lawley |
| Interviewed Guest | Dame Alicia Markova |
Broadcasts
- Sun 29 Sep 2002 11:15ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Fri 4 Oct 2002 09:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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