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2016: Nina Plapp. A Cello in the Desert

4 Extra Debut. Nina Plapp - ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ/RGS journey award winner - sets off for India, with her cello, in search of the roots of gypsy music. From 2016.

2016's winner of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ/Royal Geographical Society dream journey award was Nina Plapp - who sets off from the Isle of Wight with her cello 'Cuthbert' en route to India via Transylvania in a search for the roots of gypsy music.

Nina is a cellist from a large musical family and the energy and rhythms of gypsy music have always mesmerised her. Cuthbert, now 167 years old, has played in many an orchestra and was most recently under the guardianship of Nina's great aunt Bebe.

After a family send-off, Nina and Cuthbert head east on an adventure into the rich musical landscape of the gypsies. They first visit a family in Romania where she immerses herself in the wild rhythms and melodies of the Roma in rural Transylvania.

Then they continue to India to seek out the original gypsies. On their way they join a chorus on the train through the desert, get locked inside a cupboard with singing girls in a Rajasthani village and play with the gypsy musicians at a wedding.

Producer: Neil McCarthy

First broadcast on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4 in October 2016.

Available now

30 minutes

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Broadcasts

  • Fri 21 Oct 2016 11:00
  • Mon 26 Mar 2018 11:00
  • Tue 8 Oct 2024 10:30
  • Tue 8 Oct 2024 16:30
  • Wed 9 Oct 2024 00:30

Journey of a Lifetime Award – Find full details

Journey of a Lifetime Award – Find full details

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