Desert Island Discs Archive

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Desert Island Discs Revisited

Factual: Life Stories

Selected castaway gems from the BBC Desert Island Discs archive.

Desert Island Discs Revisited: Lost Gems: Dame Margot Fonteyn

Dame Margot Fonteyn

Lost Gems

Desert Island Discs

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Desert Island Discs Revisited, Lost Gems, Dame Margot Fonteyn

Prima ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn shares her castaway choices with Roy Plomley.

4 Extra Debut. From Bach to Verdi. Prima ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn shares her castaway choices with Roy Plomley. From 1965.

From Johann Sebastian Bach to Giuseppe Verdi.

Prima ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn shares her castaway choices with Roy Plomley.

Born in Surrey, she studied at dancing schools in London – eventually joining the school attached to the Vic-Wells Ballet – later known as the Royal Ballet. 

Her teenage debut was as a snowflake in ‘The Nutcracker’ in 1934, with her solo debut in 1935. Sir Frederick Ashton made her the star of numerous ballets.

Widely admired by both fans and critics, many of Britain’s leading male dancers were her partners. Latterly Rudolf Nureyev reinvigorated her career, as she continued to perform around the world.   

She married Panamanian diplomat, Dr Roberto Arias in 1955, and cared for him after he was nearly paralyzed in an assassination attempt in 1964.

Awarded a CBE in 1950, she became a Dame in 1956.

Dame Margot Fonteyn died aged 71 in 1991.

Redefining the style of 20th century British ballet, the impact she made lives on.

This was the 750th episode of Desert Island Discs broadcast on the 12th April 1965. 

DISC ONE: Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe: Daybreak - Suisse Romande Orchestra with the Motet Choir of Geneva
DISC TWO: Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major - Bath Festival Orchestra (Soloists: Yehudi Menuhin and Rudolf Barshai)
DISC THREE: Bach’s Passacaglia in C Minor - Helmut Walcha
DISC FOUR: Mananita de San Juan - Teresa Berganza and Felix Lavilla
DISC FIVE: Verdi’s Requiem: Dies Irae - New England Conservatory Chorus with the Boston Symphony Orchestra  
DISC SIX: Chopin’s Etude in E Major, Op. 10/3 - Sviatoslav Richter
DISC SEVEN: Honeysuckle Rose - Lena Horne
DISC EIGHT: Puccini’s Chorus: Invocation To The Moon (from Turandot) - Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan  

CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE - Bach’s Passacaglia in C Minor - Helmut Walcha
BOOK CHOICE - Hadrian's Memoirs by Marguerite Yourcenar
LUXURY CHOICE - Skin-diver's mask

Producer: Monica Chapman

Desert Island Discs was created by Roy Plomley.  

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in April 1965.

Desert Island Discs Revisited: Lost Gems

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

A collection of rediscovered castaways to mark BBC @ 100

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