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Clemency Burton-Hill

Benedict Cumberbatch

Alex Clark

Tasmin Little

Roxanna Panufnik

Ben Wardle

Angie Nehring

Front Row: Benedict Cumberbatch, Tasmin Little, Elena Ferrante

Doctor Strange, Tasmin Little, Elena Ferrante

28/10/2016

Benedict Cumberbatch, Tasmin Little, Elena Ferrante

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tasmin Little, Elena Ferrante

Superhero film Doctor Strange, Tasmin Little on Vivaldi, Elena Ferrante's new book.

Benedict Cumberbatch explains how he prepared to be superhero Doctor Strange, Tasmin Little and composer Roxanna Panufnik are inspired by Vivaldi, and Elena Ferrante's new book.

Benedict Cumberbatch takes the lead role in Doctor Strange, the latest blockbuster from Marvel studios. He discusses playing one of their less well-known superheroes; the former surgeon who protects the earth with his two mystical objects - the Cloak of Levitation and Eye of Agamotto - and explains how his preparation for this physically demanding film coincided with his performing Hamlet on stage at the Barbican in London.

Elena Ferrante, the author of the Neapolitan Quartet, has always insisted that nothing should come between a reader and her books, and regards public interest in her as an unnecessary distraction. Her new book - Frantumaglia: A Writer's Journey - is a collection of her correspondence and prompted a media storm when it was used as the justification for investigating and revealing her identity. Critic Alex Clark reviews Ferrante's latest literary offering.

Violinist Tasmin Little has, for the first time, recorded Vivaldi's Four Seasons, along with a complementary contemporary piece, Four World Seasons by Roxanna Panufnik. In this new composition each season is evoked by a different country and its music, including autumn in Albania and summer in India. Musician and composer discuss their collaboration.

One glance at the UK album charts reveals that alongside the Drakes, the Two Door Cinema Clubs and the Craig Davids, there is one musical category that refuses to go away. Writer Ben Wardle tries to fathom the enduring appeal of 'Middle of the Road' music. 

Presenter: Clemency Burton-Hill
Producer: Angie Nehring.

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