Desert Island Discs: Archive 1996-2000

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the flamenco guitarist Paco Peña. Celebrated thoughout the world for his authentic performances, he was born into a poor family in Southern Spain where music, singing and dancing was part of everyday life. Today, he is regarded as one of the world's foremost traditional Flamenco players. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Portro de Rabia y Miel by Camaron de la Isla

"Sue Lawley's guest this week is the jockey Richard Dunwoody. He's been champion jockey three times and has won the Grand National twice. Now he's hot on the heels of Peter Scudamore's record for the most wins ever. He chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Clare Island by The Saw Doctors

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the actress Luise Rainer who recently appeared in the film The Gambler. In 1936 she won the first of two Oscars for her telephone scene in the film The Great Zeigfeld. Despite her success, she felt uncomfortable in Hollywood and made her friends among the European expatriate community, including Schoenburg, Einstein and Thomas Mann.

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

Favourite track: The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn

Sue Lawley's castaway is Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam.

Favourite track: Chicago by Frank Sinatra

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the award-winning restaurant critic Fay Maschler. Twenty-seven years after she won a competition to write a column for the Evening Standard, she is still eating out three times a week, comparing caramel crackling and moue of mousse, on our behalf. She chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Goldberg Variations Nos. 1 and 2 by Johann Sebastian Bach

Sue Lawley's castaway is scriptwriter & Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis.

Favourite track: And I Love Her by The Beatles

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the opera singer Maria Ewing. Renowned for her acting ability as much as her voice - she portrayed Carmen as witty, clever and very very dangerous. Her Sheherazade was sexy. While as Salome she brought the audience to the edge of their seats as the last of the seven veils revealed her naked beneath. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Opening of Prelude a L'apres-midi d'un Faune by Claude Debussy

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the Romanian poet Nina Cassian. She was forbidden to return home, after a visit to New York, because of her outspoken critisism the Ceaucescu regime. The loneliness of the unwilling exile is often reflected in her work, but so is love, passion and her wicked sense of humour.

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

Favourite track: Ach Golgatha by Johann Sebastian Bach

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the pianist Andras Schiff. Born in Hungary, Bartok was the first composer he fell in love with and his music is still a regular part of his repertoire; despite making his fingers bleed. He compares learning a new composition to maturing wine - you can taste it almost immediately but it takes many years to become a vintage performance.

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

Favourite track: String Quintet in C - Second Movement by Franz Schubert

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the American travel writer Bill Bryson. His inspiration was his father; a great traveller who never quite made it to his intended destination. His best-selling books, Notes from a Small Island and The Lost Continent, chronicle his experiences of facing up to fearsome British landladies and American motels which make the Bates hotel in Psycho look inviting.

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

Favourite track: (Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay by Otis Redding