John Tomlinson
Sue Lawley's castaway is bass opera singer John Tomlinson.
Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the British bass John Tomlinson. He is most famous as Wotan - ruler of the gods in Wagner's Ring Cycle. In fact, it's a role he has made so much his own that the composer's grandson says it could almost have been written with him in mind. Growing up in a Methodist family music was a natural part of life, yet he studied to be an engineer until the urge to sing became too powerful to ignore.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: Concerto For Violin And Strings In D Minor Largo by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Flora and Fauna of a Tropical Desert Island
Luxury: A box of lenses
Last on
Music Played
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Wotan's Farewell (from Die Walküre)
Soloist: John Tomlinson Conductor: Daniel Barenboim
Castaway's Favourite
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for Two Violins in D minor - 2nd movement
Soloist: David Oistrach Soloist: Igor Oistrach
- Violin Concertos BWV 1041.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
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George Frideric Handel
His yoke is easy (from Messiah)
Conductor: Trevor Pinnock Choir: English Concert and Choir
- The Messiah.
- Archiv.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Riconosci in quest' amplesso (from The Marriage of Figaro)
Conductor: Daniel Barenboim Soloist: John Tomlinson
- Le Nozze Di Figaro.
- Erato.
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Götterdämmerung Act 2 Prelude
Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Bernard Haitink
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Giuseppe Verdi
Act 1 Duet (from Rigoletto)
Soloist: Renata Scotto, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
- Rigoletto.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
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The Police
Synchronicity 2
- Message In A Box.
- A&M.
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Selig wie die Sonne (from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg)
Soloist: Karita Mattila Conductor: George Solti
Book Choice
Flora and Fauna of a Tropical Desert Island
Luxury Choice
A box of lenses
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Sue Lawley |
| Interviewed Guest | John Tomlinson |
Broadcasts
- Sun 18 Jan 199812:15BBC Radio 4
- Fri 23 Jan 199809:05BBC Radio 4
Featured in...
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Archive 1996-2000—Desert Island Discs
Guests are invited to choose the eight records they would take to a desert island
Podcast
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Desert Island Discs
Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.






