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Alison Balsom

Kathryn Hughes

Danuta Kean

John Wilson

Jerome Weatherald

Front Row: Alison Balsom, To Walk Invisible, Beautiful books, Flying on stage

Alison Balsom, To Walk Invisible, Beautiful books, Flying on stage

22/12/2016

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, Alison Balsom, To Walk Invisible, Beautiful books, Flying on stage

Trumpeter Alison Balsom, and a review of Sally Wainwright's Brontë drama To Walk Invisible

Trumpeter Alison Balsom; review of Sally Wainwright's Brontë TV drama To Walk Invisible; pick of beautiful books for Christmas; behind-the-scenes at the aerial action at Peter Pan.

On her latest album Jubilo, Alison Balsom plays two incarnations of the trumpet: the natural trumpet - ascendant during the Baroque period of the 17th and 18th centuries - and the 19th century creation that is the modern trumpet. She discusses the appeal of both instruments and what they've brought to the album. 

Screenwriter Sally Wainwright made her name with award-winning contemporary dramas such as Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax. She's now written and directed her first period TV drama, To Walk Invisible, an exploration of the lives of the Brontës during the tumultuous years when the four siblings - Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne - were at home with their father Patrick. Critic and historian Kathryn Hughes reviews.

The big show for Christmas at the National Theatre this year is Peter Pan which features a lot of aerial action. Front Row goes behind-the-scenes to find out how the flying is done.

Still looking for a last-minute Christmas gift? Danuta Kean makes her selection this year's 'beautiful books'.

Presenter John Wilson
Producer Jerome Weatherald.

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