Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Wife of the Prime Minister, best known for being the spouse of the Prime Minister.
On the island
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.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:34How well could you endure loneliness?
I think I should endure it very well for a little while, anyway.
Presenter asks
0:41What 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
4:10What would you be most frightened of on a desert island?
Spiders, I think … Or snakes if there were any.
Presenter asks
4:19Are 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 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.
Presenter asks
4:49Would 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
5:11Would 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.”