Willard White

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Willard White.

Teased as a child for his deep bass voice, it has made him one of the most popular opera stars today. Happy to sing Wagner or Gershwin, he's renowned for his ability to get under the skin of his roles, and audiences still remember how, as Porgy, he wept real tears at the loss of Bess.

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

Choices

1.

Elvis Presley

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

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2.

Nat King Cole

Smile

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3.

Giuseppe Verdi

Ella giammai m'amò (from Don Carlos)

Soloist: Nicolai Ghiaurov Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Conductor: Sir George Solti

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4.

Gioachino Rossini

Una voce poco fa (from The Barber of Seville)

Soloist: Maria Callas Orchestra: The Theatre Orchestra of LA Scala Conductor: Tulio Serafin

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5.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major - 2nd movement

Soloist: Pablo Casals

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6.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Deh! vieni, alla finestra (from Don Giovanni)

Soloist: Cesare Siepi

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7.

Castaway's favourite

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major - 2nd movement

Soloist: Robert Casadesus Conductor: George Szell

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8.

Louis Armstrong

What a Wonderful World

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Book

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

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Luxury item

Seeds

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