Main content

Sir Ernest Hall

Sue Lawley's castaway is businessman and musician Sir Ernest Hall.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the businessman Sir Ernest Hall.

His life is like a fairytale. From a sickly boy, living in the one room he and his family shared, he became a successful businessman and millionaire - and all because of an inspirational piece of music. Today on the site of an old carpet factory in Halifax, he's brought together his two loves - business and the arts - to form an environment in which plastic-bag manufacturers and building societies draw inspiration from the painters and sculptors who work alongside. At the age of 68 he has also realised his ambition to be a professional pianist.

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

Favourite track: Piano Trio in B Major by Franz Schubert
Book: The collected works by William Blake
Luxury: Piano

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 1 May 1998 09:00
主播大秀 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Sir Terry Frost

Next

Susan Blackmore

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor

    Soloist: Sergei Rachmaninov Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra Conductor: Eugene Ormandy

    • Rachmaninov plays Rachmaninov.
    • RCA Victor.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Franz Schubert

      Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major

      Soloist: Alfred Cortot, Jacques Thibaud and Pablo Casals

      • Piano Trios by Beethoven and Schubert.
      • EMI.

  • Ferruccio Busoni

    Piano Concerto (Op 39)

    Soloist: John Ogdon Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Busoni Piano Concerto.
    • EMI.

  • Alban Berg

    Lulu Suite -1st movement

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

    • Vienna.
    • Mercury.

  • Bobby Wellins

    I'm A Fool To Want You

    Artist: Colin Purbrook, Dave Green & Clark Tracey

    • The Satin Album.
    • Jazzizit.

  • Gegrusst sei, teurer Held (from G枚tterd盲mmerung)

    Soloist: Deitrich Fischer-Dieskau Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic

  • Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op. 39

    Soloist: Sir Ernest Hall

  • Steely Dan

    Black Cow

    • Aja.
    • MCA.

  • Book Choice

    • The collected works - William Blake

  • Luxury Choice

    • Piano

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sir Ernest Hall

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Apr 1998 11:15
    主播大秀 Radio 4
  • Fri 1 May 1998 09:00
    主播大秀 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast