Main content

Sir John Mortimer

Sue Lawley's castaway is writer and barrister Sir John Mortimer.

Favourite track: Dio, Che Nell'alma Infondere from Act Two by Giuseppe Verdi
Book: Oxford Book of English Verse by Chirstopher Ricks
Luxury: Velasquez painting of old lady frying eggs

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

New Year's Day 2002 10:00

Music Played

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony No. 4 in E minor

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Neeme Jarvi

    • Symphonies Nos. 1-4.
    • Chandos.
  • Fred Astaire

    Funny Face

    • Funny Face Original Soundtrack.
    • DRG.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    Signore, ascolta! (from Turandot)

    Soloist: Renata Scotto Orchestra: Orchestra of del Teatro dell Opera

    • Turnodot.
    • EMI.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Giuseppe Verdi

      Dio che nell'alma infondere (from Don Carlos)

      Choir: Ambrosian Opera Chorus Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

      • Don Carlos.
      • EMI.
  • Dinah Washington

    Our Love is Here to Stay

    • In The Land of Hi-Fi.
    • Emarcy.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Soave sia il vento (from Cosi fan tutte)

    Soloist: Carol Vaness, Delores Ziegler & Claudio Desderi

    • Cosi fan Tutte.
    • EMI.
  • Louis Armstrong

    C'est Si Bon

    • We Have All The Time In The World.
    • EMI.
  • Richard Strauss

    Marie Theres'! Hab' mir's gelobt (Act 3 Trio) (from Der Rosenkavalier)

    Soloist: Anna Tanowa-Sintow Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Der Rosenkavalier.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Book Choice

    • Oxford Book of English Verse - Christopher Ricks

  • Luxury Choice

    • Velasquez painting of old lady frying eggs

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest John Mortimer

Broadcasts

  • Sun 4 Feb 2001 11:15
  • Fri 9 Feb 2001 09:00
  • New Year's Day 2002 10:00

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast