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Roberto Alagna

Kirsty Young's castaway is opera singer Roberto Alagna.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the singer Roberto Alagna. He is one of the most celebrated tenors in the world and one half of opera's golden couple; his wife is the soprano Angela Gheorghiu. Yet, his is not a voice that was honed through early years in a conservatoire. He was brought up in Paris in a family of keen amateur musicians. He used to sing in nightclubs and in those early years, he says, the world of opera was, to him, no more than an impossible dream.

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

Favourite track: One Day from the Immortal Heights by Giuseppe Verdi
Book: The works by Victor Hugo
Luxury: Guitar.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 21 Aug 2009 09:00
91热爆 Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Fran莽ois鈥怉drien Bo茂eldieu

    This Hand is so Pretty

    Soloist: Erna Spoorenberg, Nicolai Gedda Orchestra: Chorus & Orchestra of Radio Hilversum Conductor: Jean Fournet

    • Boieldieu: La dame blanche.
    • Opera D'oro.

  • Django Reinhardt

    Minor Swing

    Ensemble: Aquarelle Guitar Quartet.
    • Djangology.
    • Bluebird.

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Guardate! Pazzo son (from Manon Lescaut)

    Soloist: Benjamino Gigli, Giuseppe Noto Conductor: Umberto Berrettoni

    • Beniamino Gigli: The Complete HMV Recordings 1938 - 40.
    • Romophone.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Faint echo of my youth (Lensky's aria) (from Eugene Onegin)

    Soloist: Ivan Kozlovsky Orchestra: The Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra Conductor: Alexander Orlov

    • Eugene Onegin.
    • Naxos.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Giuseppe Verdi

      Belli di gloria, un giorno (from Attila)

      Soloist: Giorgio Zancanaro Orchestra: E Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Milano, Conductor: Riccardo Muti

      • Verdi: Attila.
      • EMI.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    To love both young and old (Gremin's aria) (from Eugene Onegin)

    Soloist: Nicolai Ghiaurov Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus Conductor: Claudio Abbado, Edward Downes

    • Grandi Voci: Nicolai Ghiaurov.
    • Decca.

  • Jules Massenet

    Baigne d'eau mes mains (from Tha茂s)

    Soloist: Renee Fleming & Thomas Hampson, with Choeur de L鈥橭pera de Bordeaux Orchestra: Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine Conductor: Yves Abel

    • Massenet: Thais.
    • Decca.

  • Godard-Silvestre-Capoul

    The Lullaby Berceuse

    Soloist: Andre D鈥橝rkor

    • Andre D鈥橝rkor (Tenor) (du Theatre Royale de la Monnaie, Bruxelles).
    • Claremont.

  • Book Choice

    • The works - Victor Hugo

  • Luxury Choice

    • Guitar

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Roberto Alagna

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 Aug 2009 11:15
    91热爆 Radio 4
  • Fri 21 Aug 2009 09:00
    91热爆 Radio 4

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