Sue Lawley introduces a gala concert from the Royal Festival Hall in London, in the presence of invited castaways, to celebrate the 60th birthday of the much-loved radio programme. Castaway soloists Lesley Garrett (soprano), Thomas Allen (baritone), Tasmin Little (violin), John Harle (saxophone) and Peter Donohoe (piano) join the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Barry Wordsworth, the Royal Choral Society, and castaway conductor Paul Daniel. They perform a selection of music chosen by castaways down the years, including pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Puccini, Bruch and Rachmaninov. Plus a new arrangement by Ian Gardiner of By the Sleepy Lagoon, the serenade by Eric Coates that has introduced every Desert Island Discs interview since the very first in 1942. During the interval a selection of castaways reflect on the allure of one of their most popular choices of music: the Adagio (2nd movement) from Schubert's String Quintet in C, D956, featuring a recording of the work by the Wihan Quartet With Milos Sadlo (cello).

(A perfect day for castaways: page 16)