Main content

John Piper

Roy Plomley's castaway is artist John Piper.

The artist John Piper is a man of many talents. Not only is he a distinguished painter, but also he is particularly interested in tapestry and stained glass, and he has done windows for cathedrals at Coventry and Liverpool.

In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about the many facets of his life, especially his designs for many of the operas of Benjamin Britten, and he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninov
Book: The complete works by William Blake
Luxury: Pianola

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 16 Dec 1983 09:05

Music Played

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Piano Sonata No. 3 in F sharp minor

    Soloist: Vladimir Ashkenazy

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony No. 5 in B flat major

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Andre Previn

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Sergey Rachmaninov

      Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

      Performer: Alexander Gavrylyuk. Orchestra: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic.

      Soloist: Vladimir Ashkenazy Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Andre Previn

  • Gabriel FaurΓ©

    Ballade in F sharp minor

    Soloist: John Ogdon Orchestra: City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Andre Previn

  • Benjamin Britten

    Winter Words - No 3 Wagtail and Baby

    Soloist: Peter Pears, Benjamin Britten

  • Francis Poulenc

    Malvina (from Le Bal masquΓ©)

    Soloist: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Earl Hines & Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra

    Tea For Two

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 89 in F major

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Hungarica Conductor: Antal Dorati

  • Book Choice

    • The complete works - William Blake

  • Luxury Choice

    • Pianola

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Roy Plomley
Interviewed Guest John Piper

Broadcasts

  • Sat 10 Dec 1983 18:25
  • Fri 16 Dec 1983 09:05

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast