Main content

Sir Harrison Birtwistle

Sue Lawley's castaway is composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the internationally-acclaimed composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his childhood in Lancashire, the solitude he craves when he writes his music and how he copes with the difficulties audiences encounter with some of his compositions.

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

Favourite track: Sherry by Frankie Valli
Book: A Latin Primer
Luxury: Chainsaw

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 21 Jan 1994 09:05
±«Óătv Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Ian Hislop

Next

Willy Russell

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    Symphony No. 8 in B minor 'Unfinished'

    • Schubert - 8 Symphonies.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Quintet in A major

    • Clarinet Quintets.
    • Amon.

  • Karlheinz Stockhausen

    Gruppen For 3 Orchestras

    • Stockhousen.

  • Robert Fayrfax

    Aeternae Laudis Lilium

    • Missa Albanus.
    • Hyperion.

  • Blossom Dearie

    Love Is Here To Stay

    • The Special Magic Of Blossom Dearie.
    • Verve.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Symphonies of Wind Instruments

    • Pierre Boulez Dirige Stravinsky.
    • Disques Montaigne.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • The Four Seasons

      Sherry

      • 25th Anniversary Collection.
      • Sequel.

  • Richard Wagner

    Siegfried's Funeral March (from Götterdämmerung)

    • Gotterdammerung.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Book Choice

    • A Latin Primer

  • Luxury Choice

    • Chainsaw

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Harrison Birtwistle

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 Jan 1994 12:15
    ±«Óătv Radio 4
  • Fri 21 Jan 1994 09:05
    ±«Óătv Radio 4

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