Main content

Christopher Lee

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor Christopher Lee.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is British cinema's king of horror - Christopher Lee. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his disappointment at not being able to follow what he considers his true vocation, that of an opera singer, and about his 50-year career which has encompassed 230 films, 27 plays and numerous radio and television appearances.

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

Favourite track: Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel
Book: The Sword In The Stone by T H White
Luxury: A set of golf clubs

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 3 Mar 1995 09:05
Â鶹Éç Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Jimmy Knapp

Next

Professor Eric Hobsbawm

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Si, pel ciel (Oath duet) (from Otello)

    Soloist: Enrico Caruso, Titta Ruffo

    • Caruso Sings Verdi.
    • RCA Victor Gold Seal.

  • Richard Strauss

    Der Rosenkavalier (Waltzes)

    Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Fritz Reiner.

    Soloist: Ludwig Weber Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonica Conductor: Erich Kleiber

    • Richard Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier.
    • Decca.

  • Richard Wagner

    The Flying Dutchman

    Soloist: Herman Uhde Orchestra: The Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chorus

    • Wagner - The Flying Dutchman.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • George Frideric Handel

      Rinaldo

      Soloist: Samuel Ramey Orchestra: The Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra

      • Samuel Ramey - Opera Arias By Handel.
      • Philips Digital Classics.

  • Richard Wagner

    Brünnhilde, heilige Braut! (from Götterdämmerung)

    Soloist: Lauritz Melchior Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

    • Wagner On Record 1926-1942.
    • HMV.

  • Jacques Offenbach

    Scintille, diamant (from Tales Of Hoffmann)

    Soloist: Sherrill Milnes Orchestra: The New Philharmonic Orchestra

    • The Baritone Voice - Sherrill Milnes.
    • RCA Classics.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Don Giovanni

    Soloist: Ezio Pinza

    • Pinza - Early Italian Songs.
    • Pearl.

  • Jacques Offenbach

    La Belle Hélène

    Soloist: Jussi Björling

    • Jussi Björling Vol 2.
    • Pearl.

  • Book Choice

    • The Sword In The Stone - T H White

  • Luxury Choice

    • A set of golf clubs

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Christopher Lee

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Feb 1995 12:15
    Â鶹Éç Radio 4
  • Fri 3 Mar 1995 09:05
    Â鶹Éç Radio 4

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