Hello I'm Kirstie Young and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs archive.

The program was originally broadcast in 1981 and the presenter was Roy Plumlee. Our castaway this week is one of the world's most distinguished choreographers, Sir Frederick

Ashton.

Sir Frederick, music plays a big part in your life. Do you have any practical skill at it? Do you play the piano?

No, I don't play anything. I was luckily born with very good ears.

Yes.

So that I hear everything very well.

And I have musical instincts, but the actual playing of anything,

not at all, alas.

I was born in South America.

And I had three brothers who were all given piano lessons but they were so

hopeless and wouldn't concentrate it on. By the time it came to me my mother

couldn't be bothered you see and I was the one who would have benefit which is sad. Can you read a score?

Sort of yes. Top line. Do you play discs a lot? Yes quite a lot a great deal.

Did you find it very difficult to choose just eight for this desert island?

Yes, I did. I found it very, very difficult indeed.

I could have done you four or five programs if you want.

Well, that would have been nice. And very different ones I think.

We'll talk to the BBC about... Now I found it rather hard to limit oneself just to wait.

What's the first one you've chosen?

The Valsubliers Liss, and the reason I chose that because it was in a ballet that I did at Sadler's

Wells and which is one of the first things that Margot Fonte and

...