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Series 1: 8. Evelyn Glennie
The world's leading classical solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie talks to John Wilson about her career and some of the key influences on her artistic path.\n\nFrom growing up in rural Aberdeenshire and becoming profoundly deaf at a young age, Glennie traces her route to fulfilling the ambition of becoming the first full-time solo percussionist. She demonstrates the first drum she ever owned, discusses the profound impact of the renowned percussionist James Blades, her teacher at the Royal Academy of Music, and her electrifying 1992 BBC Proms performance of James MacMillan's specially composed percussion concerto Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.\n\nThis Cultural Life is a BBC Radio 4 podcast.
Source: BBC 4
Most recent episodes of This Cultural Life
This Cultural Life
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson’s breakthrough television role in the sci-fi series The X-Files made her a global star in 1993, and she played cool-headed Agent Dana Scully for nearly a ...
02-10-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 8. Evelyn Glennie
The world's leading classical solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie talks to John Wilson about her career and some of the key influences on her artistic path.\n\nFrom growing up in ...
20-07-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Sheku Kanneh-mason
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was born in Nottingham in 1999 into a big musical family. He and his six siblings all grew up learning classical instruments and appeared on Britain&r ...
22-06-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Abi Morgan
Screenwriter and playwright Abi Morgan has worked across a diverse array of themes and genres for more than 25 years. She wrote the television series The Split, a domestic drama ...
10-05-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Salman Rushdie
One of the world’s greatest novelists, Salman Rushdie has won many prestigious international literary awards and was knighted for services to literature in 2007. He won th ...
27-03-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers is one of the most successful and influential figures in popular music. As a songwriter, producer and arranger, he has enjoyed a 50-year career with his bands Chic ...
02-03-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 1. Kenneth Branagh
Actor and film-maker Sir Kenneth Branagh talks to John Wilson about the key influences and inspirations that have shaped his own work. In a wide-ranging conversation, he reveals ...
06-02-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Peter Kosminsky
Having started out as a current affairs journalist, Peter Kosminsky made his name by telling contemporary social and political stories in the form of television drama. Warriors ...
14-12-2024
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Thelma Schoonmaker
John Wilson talks to three-time Oscar-winning film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who, for over five decades, has been Martin Scorsese’s cutting room collaborator. \n\nHaving ...
28-11-2024
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 2: Sally Wainwright
Award-winning television dramatist and director Sally Wainwright talks to John Wilson about her formative cultural influences. After learning the art of screenwriting whilst wor ...
11-09-2024
BBC 4
Most popular episodes of This Cultural Life
This Cultural Life
Abi Morgan
Screenwriter and playwright Abi Morgan has worked across a diverse array of themes and genres for more than 25 years. She wrote the television series The Split, a domestic drama ...
10-05-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson’s breakthrough television role in the sci-fi series The X-Files made her a global star in 1993, and she played cool-headed Agent Dana Scully for nearly a ...
02-10-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 7. Kwame Kwei-armah
Playwright and artistic director of London's Young Vic theatre Kwame Kwei-Armah shares some of the influences that have had a significant impact on his work.\n\nKwei-Armah pursu ...
06-02-2022
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers is one of the most successful and influential figures in popular music. As a songwriter, producer and arranger, he has enjoyed a 50-year career with his bands Chic ...
02-03-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 2: 3. Tim Minchin
Comedian, actor and composer Tim Minchin, the songwriter behind Matilda the Musical, chooses his creative influences and discusses his career.
10-12-2022
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 5. Carlos Acosta
Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta talks to John Wilson about some of the key moments of his cultural life.\n\nHe discusses the influence of his father, his early love of breakdanc ...
23-01-2022
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Boy George
Singer-songwriter Boy George talks to John Wilson about his formative cultural influences.
04-05-2024
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Sheku Kanneh-mason
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was born in Nottingham in 1999 into a big musical family. He and his six siblings all grew up learning classical instruments and appeared on Britain&r ...
22-06-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Salman Rushdie
One of the world’s greatest novelists, Salman Rushdie has won many prestigious international literary awards and was knighted for services to literature in 2007. He won th ...
27-03-2025
BBC 4
This Cultural Life
Series 1: 3. Mike Leigh
Film director Mike Leigh talks to John Wilson about the art and experiences that have shaped his own creative life.\n\nLeigh recalls his early life in Salford and reveals how a ...
07-12-2021
BBC 4