Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Desert Island Discs
Presented by Roy Plomley
Wife of the Prime Minister, best known for being the spouse of the Prime Minister.
Eight records
Wilfred Brown and Harvey Allen
I chose this partly because we used to sing a lot of hymns in my childhood, of course, in my father's church, and it was a favourite with all of us, and also because I'm very, very fond of angels, and this sounds a very funny thing to say. I rather like Victorian angels with those stern, sad faces and feather wings, and if I saw one stepping across the sands towards me on the desert island I shouldn't be at all alarmed. I should be very pleased, in fact.
Air de Ballet from Zemire et Azor
Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
I choose this record because it will remind me of a school speech day that I went to and A string quartet of small boys were playing this most beautifully.
Final Chorus from FaustFavourite
Victoria de los Ángeles, Nicolai Gedda, Boris Christoff
I'm very fond of this opera. I've seen it several times and I went to see it a few years ago at Sadler's Wells. And there was one beautiful moment you'll probably think it very sentimental, but When the curtain went up on the final scene, there was a most beautiful back cloth. With six angels, angels again you see, facing each other. with their hands together. In pairs, one above the other, three pairs, and I thought this is very well painted. And then at the very end, when the final trio is over, And Margarita moves backstage towards what I thought were painted angels. They all turned round and held out their hands to her. It was the most beautiful scene. I burst into tears. It was so moving.
The keepsakes
The book
Emily Brontë
Well this is very a difficult choice to make, but I think I would take Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
The luxury
a complete make-up set and a mirror and comb
I would like this to be a complete make-up set and a mirror and comb, just in case the ship came along to rescue me. I wouldn't like to look too disheveled when they arrived.
In conversation
Presenter asks
How well could you endure loneliness?
I think I should endure it very well for a little while, anyway.
Presenter asks
What would you want music to do for you on the island?
I think I should like it to remind me of pleasant things in my life. It wouldn't be much good sitting biting my nails and moaning.
Presenter asks
What would you be most frightened of on a desert island?
Spiders, I think … Or snakes if there were any.
Presenter asks
Are you a practical person? Could you look after yourself reasonably well?
I think I'm reasonably practical. I I I could look after myself if if there were a certain amount of green stuff and bays and things to eat.
The recording
Timestamps play the recording from that turn
Presenter
This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desertin and Discs.
Presenter
Each week, a well-known person is asked the question, if you were to be cast away alone on a desert island, which eight gramophone records would you choose to have with you?
Presenter
As usual, the castaway is introduced by Roy Plumley.
Presenter
Our castaway this week, ladies and gentlemen, is the wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Mary Wilson.
Presenter
Mrs Wilson, how well could you endure loneliness?
Mary Wilson
I think I should endure it very well for a little while, anyway.
Presenter
What would you want music to do for you on the island?
Mary Wilson
I think I should like it to remind me of pleasant things in my life.
Mary Wilson
It wouldn't be much good sitting biting my nails and moaning.
Presenter
Do you play records a lot?
Mary Wilson
Quite a lot and and my sons also play records to me, their favourites.
Presenter
What's the first one you've chosen?
Mary Wilson
The first one I've chosen is a hymn called Hark, Hark, My Soul.
Presenter
Why do you choose this?
Mary Wilson
I chose this partly because we used to sing a lot of hymns in my childhood, of course, in my father's church, and it was a favourite with all of us, and also because I'm very, very fond of angels, and this sounds a very funny thing to say.
Mary Wilson
I rather like Victorian angels with those stern, sad faces and feather wings, and if I saw one stepping across the sands towards me on the desert island I shouldn't be at all alarmed. I should be very pleased, in fact.
Speaker 2
Yes, sing on your faithful watches keeping
Speaker 2
God's sweet pragmat of the songs of
Speaker 2
The morning's joy shall end the night of we
Speaker 2
And lifelong shadows break in cross law.
Speaker 2
Angels of Jesus Angels of Light
Speaker 2
Sing in a true world.
Presenter
Hawk Hawk My Soul sung by Wilfred Brown and Harvey Allen.
Mary Wilson
I choose this record because it will remind me of a school speech day that I went to and
Mary Wilson
A string quartet of small boys were playing this most beautifully.
Presenter
Who's playing it on this recording?
Mary Wilson
Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Presenter
Sir Thomas Beacham conducting the Aire de Ballet from Gretri's Zemir et Azur.
Mary Wilson
Yeah, so.
Presenter
What would you be most frightened of on a desert island, Mrs. Wiltshire?
Presenter
Spiders, I think.
Mary Wilson
Or snakes if there were any.
Presenter
I'm not sure about snakes. I'm sure there are spiders.
Mary Wilson
Yeah.
Presenter
Are you a practical person? Could you look after yourself reasonably well?
Mary Wilson
I think I'm reasonably practical. I I I could look after myself if if there were a certain amount of green stuff and bays and things to eat.
Presenter
Yes. Um are you fond of gardening? Could you cultivate?
Mary Wilson
I think I probably could cultivate.
Presenter
Ever done in a fishing in the Silly Isles?
Mary Wilson
Yes, we we go training for mackerel, which isn't really fishing at all. You've got to put down the line and up come the mackerel. But apart from that, I haven't done any.
Presenter
Okay
Presenter
Would escape become an obsession with him?
Presenter
Would you try to get away?
Mary Wilson
In the sense that one would have to build a raft, I don't think I should be any good at that at all. What I should probably do would be to
Mary Wilson
get some dry leaves and sticks and build them up into an enormous great pyramid and then if I had a a magnifying glass or even some matches I would set it alight and just keep it going day or night just in case a ship was passing.
Presenter
Would you try to keep up appearances? Would you try to set your hair and keep your clothes pressed and tidy?
Mary Wilson
Oh yes, I should try to do that. I think that's terribly important.
Mary Wilson
Um I understand that I'm allowed one luxury and in it I I would like this to be a complete make-up set and a mirror and comb, just in case the ship came along to rescue me. I wouldn't like to look too disheveled when they arrived.
Presenter
All right, an ample supply of everything.
Presenter
What's your last record?
Mary Wilson
For the last record I've chosen...
Mary Wilson
is uh the final chorus from Gunno's Faust.
Mary Wilson
Sung by Victoria de Los Angeles, Nikolai Gueta and Boris Krzysztof.
Mary Wilson
I'm very fond of this opera. I've seen it several times and I went to see it a few years ago at Sadler's Wells.
Mary Wilson
And there was one beautiful moment you'll probably think it very sentimental, but
Mary Wilson
When the curtain went up on the final scene, there was a most beautiful back cloth.
Mary Wilson
With six angels, angels again you see, facing each other.
Mary Wilson
with their hands together.
Mary Wilson
In pairs, one above the other, three pairs, and I thought this is very well painted.
Mary Wilson
And then at the very end, when the final trio is over,
Mary Wilson
And Margarita moves backstage towards what I thought were painted angels. They all turned round and held out their hands to her. It was the most beautiful scene. I burst into tears. It was so moving. And that's why I have chosen this for my final record.
Presenter
The closing scene from Gouneau's Faust from a recording conducted by Henri Cliton.
Presenter
If you could take just one disc of the H you've played us, which would it be?
Mary Wilson
I think I would take Gunners Faust.
Presenter
And well we've heard your luxury that you're choosing to take to the island. What about one book?
Presenter
Assuming the Bible and Shakespeare are already there.
Mary Wilson
Well this is very a difficult choice to make, but I think I would take Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
Presenter
This is your favorite novel of all.
Mary Wilson
Yes, th this is my favorite.
Presenter
Well, thank you, Mrs. Mary Wilton, for letting us hear your Desert Island Discs.
Mary Wilson
Thank you very much for inviting me, Mr. Plume.
Presenter
Goodbye everyone.
Speaker 3
The guest in this evening's programme, first broadcast on Monday, was Mrs. Mary Wilson.
Speaker 3
The interviewer was Roy Plumley.
Speaker 3
And the producer Ronald Cook.
Presenter asks
Would you try to get away?
In the sense that one would have to build a raft, I don't think I should be any good at that at all. What I should probably do would be to get some dry leaves and sticks and build them up into an enormous great pyramid and then if I had a a magnifying glass or even some matches I would set it alight and just keep it going day or night just in case a ship was passing.
Presenter asks
Would you try to keep up appearances? Would you try to set your hair and keep your clothes pressed and tidy?
Oh yes, I should try to do that. I think that's terribly important. … I understand that I'm allowed one luxury and in it I I would like this to be a complete make-up set and a mirror and comb, just in case the ship came along to rescue me. I wouldn't like to look too disheveled when they arrived.
“I think I should like it to remind me of pleasant things in my life. It wouldn't be much good sitting biting my nails and moaning.”
“I rather like Victorian angels with those stern, sad faces and feather wings, and if I saw one stepping across the sands towards me on the desert island I shouldn't be at all alarmed. I should be very pleased, in fact.”
“What I should probably do would be to get some dry leaves and sticks and build them up into an enormous great pyramid and then if I had a a magnifying glass or even some matches I would set it alight and just keep it going day or night just in case a ship was passing.”
“And then at the very end, when the final trio is over, And Margarita moves backstage towards what I thought were painted angels. They all turned round and held out their hands to her. It was the most beautiful scene. I burst into tears. It was so moving.”