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Rachel Brown, Stephen Fry, Carlos Gamerro

"I kind of just like to blend genres together" - Rachel Brown

This week we look at how the English language describes intense emotions. British writer and actor Stephen Fry explores, for example, how poor restaurant reviews are often written in the language of real trauma and loss. As the world’s largest arts festival gets underway in Edinburgh, Scotland, we explore one of the highlight events - The Encounter. It’s a time-bending play about the American photographer Lauren McIntyre’s encounter with the Amazon’s Mayoruna people in 1969. The Ethiopian/American singer Rachel Brown talks about her influences and inspirations. We find out about new research that shows playing music during hospital operations can have positive effects on patients and surgeons. Prolific American comedy producer Judd Apatow talks about his new film Trainwreck with Amy Schumer. We have a literary postcard from Carlos Gamerro in Buenos Aires with news of what’s going on in the world of writing in that city. With Cuba and America reconciling diplomatically we take the opportunity to meet Dayme Arocena who talks about her Santeria faith and the music of the country. And the publisher who took a gamble on Harry Potter, after everyone else had turned it down, remembers when he called J.K. Rowling with the good news.
(Photo: Rachel Brown (c) Sarah Smiley, Stephen Fry (c) Samir Hussein/Getty, Carlos Gamerro (c) Johannes Eisele)

50 minutes

Last on

Tue 25 Aug 2015 01:06GMT

Music and featured items

  • Fry's English Delight

    Feelings and the language we use to express them

    Duration: 07:01

  • Simon McBurney

    The actor/director of Complicite talks about his latest production

    Duration: 08:08

  • Rachel Brown

    The Ethiopian-American singer and songwriter on her African-influenced love songs

    Duration: 04:56

  • Music and surgery

    According to new research listening to music during surgery can reduce pain

    Duration: 02:53

  • Trainwreck

    Judd Apatow discusses his bad taste comedy, Trainwreck

    Duration: 11:18

  • Buenos Aires Postcard

    The Argentinian novelist, critic, and translator talks about the literature of Argentina

    Duration: 04:23

  • Dayme Arocena

    The Cuban chantuesse talks to Mary Ann Hobbs

    Duration: 05:10

  • Discovering Harry Potter

    Interview with book editor Barry Cunningham who first spotted the boy wizard's potential

  • John Newman

    Come and Get It

  • Terry Riley

    Cadenza on the Wind

  • Nina Miranda & Chris Frank

    Amazon Adventure

  • Rachel Brown

    Me and You

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Lark Ascending

  • Paco de Lucía

    Entre Dos Aguas

  • Automatic

    Don Broco

  • Elvis

    Mystery Train

  • Ahmad Jamal

    Buenos Aires

  • Daymé Arocena

    Madres

  • John Williams

    Hedwig's Theme

    Performer: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Nic Raine.
  • Paco Peña

    Ay Mi Romera

  • Billy Joel

    A Matter of Trust

  • Giorgio Moroder

    Deja Vu

  • Echosmith

    Come Together

Simon McBurney

Simon McBurney

The Encounter by Simon McBurney is at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre until 23 August 2015. 

The show then tours until March 2016, details .

Photo: © Eva Vermandel

Rachel Brown

Rachel Brown
Rachel Brown's new album is called The Band and it's released on the Anavista Entertainment label 
(Photo (c) Sarah Smiley)

Broadcasts

  • Sat 22 Aug 2015 11:06GMT
  • Sun 23 Aug 2015 22:06GMT
  • Mon 24 Aug 2015 08:06GMT
  • Tue 25 Aug 2015 01:06GMT