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Sir Stephen Spender

Sue Lawley's castaway is poet Sir Stephen Spender.

In this week's Desert Island Discs, one of the most eminent English poets of this century, Sir Stephen Spender, talks to Sue Lawley about his radical and often flamboyant past, and his friendships with such notable literary figures as Christopher Isherwood, WH Auden and Virginia Woolfe.

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

Favourite track: String Quartet in A Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust
Luxury: Painting or sculpture & photograph of daughter

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 Dec 1989 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Falstaff Act 2

    Soloist: Sir Geraint Evans, Ilva Ligabue Orchestra: The RCA Italiana Opera

    • Verdi: Falstaff.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

      Orchestra: The Melos Quartet

      • Beethoven: Late Spring Quartets.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rake's Progress Act 1

    Choir: The London Sinfonietta Chorus

    • The Rake's Progress.
    • Decca.

  • Douglas Byng

    I'm A Tree

    • Douglas Byng Looks Back.
    • Ace Of Clubs.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Sonata No. 20 in A major, D959 - 4th movement

    Soloist: Alfred Brendel

    • Schubert: Piano Works.
    • Philips.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major

    Soloist: Natasha Litvin

  • Joseph Haydn

    String Quartet in F minor - 2nd movement

    Orchestra: The Tatrai String Quartet

    • Haydn: String Quartets.
    • Hungaroton.

  • GΓ¶tterdΓ¤mmerung Closing Scene

    Soloist: Wolfgang Windgassen Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonia Orchestra

  • Book Choice

    • A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu - Marcel Proust

  • Luxury Choice

    • Painting or sculpture & photograph of daughter

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir Stephen Spender

Broadcasts

  • Sun 2 Apr 1989 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 7 Apr 1989 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 10 Dec 1989 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 15 Dec 1989 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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