BBC Radio 4 LW

Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: John Ogdon

24/09/1989

John Ogdon

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, John Ogdon

Sue Lawley's castaway is pianist John Ogdon

Sue Lawley's castaway is pianist John Ogdon.

This week's Desert Island Discs will be a form of tribute to the pianist John Ogdon, who died last month.

In the programme, you can hear about his early musical life and his enormous success on the international music scene - a success which was cut short by a devastating nervous breakdown which brought his career to a halt. During his conversation with Sue Lawley, he talked about that illness, his eventual recovery and subsequent return to the concert platform and recording studios.

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

Favourite track: Symphony No 1 in B Minor 1st Movement by William Walton
Book: The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Luxury: Steinway piano

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations

Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations

Do nuclear weapons still pose a threat in 1989, and why is George Bush so popular?

President Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations, the sleeping menace of nuclear weapons and the president's unusually high popularity in his early days in office.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4

About this data