Dame Monica Mason

Kirsty Young's castaway is the director of the Royal Ballet, Dame Monica Mason.

Her working life has been dedicated to dance. When she joined the Royal Ballet at fifteen she was the youngest dancer to be admitted to the company and, during her career, its legendary choreographer Kenneth MacMillan created five roles for her. She became director ten years ago and is due to step down this summer. She says: "I couldn't bear it if I thought that, behind closed doors, somebody was saying 'she's here again, you know', so I shall keep my distance and only go in when asked."

Choices

1.

Billie Holiday

All of Me

Composer: Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons

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2.

Tchaikovsky

Overture to Swan Lake

Artist: The Russian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dmitry Yablonsky

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3.

Richard Tauber

You are My Heart’s Delight

Composer: Lehar

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4.

Charlie Kunz

The Harry Lime theme

Composer: Anton Karas

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5.

Paul Simon

Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes

Composer: Paul Simon

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6.

Igor Stravinsky

The Sacrificial Dance from the Rite of Spring

Artist: The Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam conducted by Colin Davis

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7.

Heitor Villa-Lobos

The Prelude No.1 in E Minor

Artist: Andres Segovia

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8.

Castaway's favourite

Gustav Mahler

The ending of Der Abschied – The Farewell from The Song of the Earth

Artist: Christa Ludwig & Fritz Wunderlich with the Philharmonia & New Philharmonia Orchestras conducted by Otto Klemperer

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Book

A special compilation of all of David Attenborough's books by

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Luxury item

A torch

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