Bloomsbury Radio chat to French soprano, Clara Barbier-Serrano and Robert Finegan (saxophone) about her upcoming event “Paris Chapters”. This project is centred around new music based on works by Irish writers who lived in Paris (James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, W.B Yeats etc.) for voice, saxophone, and piano. Irish saxophonist Robert Finegan and French singer Clara Barbier-Serrano explore the possibilities of contemporary music and the idea of having a programme that can be relatable and flexible to suit different audiences and spaces. 2022 marked 100 years since the publication of James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ in Paris, making it the ideal time to launch the project and shine a light on this theme. This publication was also a clear indicator of the growing links between Ireland and France, both culturally and artistically. The new music becomes a part of the larger programme that shows the connections between Ireland and France. This includes solo and chamber music reflecting the life of these authors in Paris and the songs they would have heard, been inspired by, or wished to hear. For example, Traditional Irish songs, French classical music and the chanson/jazz scene of Paris. The programme will also include short readings from works by these authors, showing the growth of the authors as they depart their homeland and submerge themselves in the bustling city of Paris.

Bloomsbury Radio chat to Dr Francisco Diego about “Paradise Planet Earth: A cosmic miracle under threat”.

Bloomsbury Radio chat to Nicola Parry from the London Welsh Centre. The Annual Emporium at the London Welsh Centre is back, celebrating Welsh culture and creativity. This year’s event features a captivating range of products from London Welsh traders, artisans from Wales, and the local Camden community. The marketplace showcases handcrafted creations, from contemporary artworks to stunning jewellery and delectable culinary delights, embodying Welsh artistry and local talent. Visitors can immerse themselves in the world of Welsh arts and crafts while enjoying traditional food and drinks. The Emporium also serves as a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and community engagement, offering live music performances with choir melodies. This gathering highlights the strong connections between the Welsh community, traders from London, and the local Camden community, fostering unity and pride through collaboration and shared creativity. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to experience the rich culture of Wales and local Camden artistry, savouring delightful culinary treats and engaging in cultural exchange. The Annual Emporium at the London Welsh Centre promises an unforgettable event celebrating the diverse talents of London Welsh traders, artisans from Wales, and the vibrant local community of Camden.

Bloomsbury Radio chat to Karen Wong (flute) & Lance Mok (piano) about an upcoming varied programme of contemporary music for flute and piano featuring works from underrepresented and contemporary composers. The wide range of music showcases the development in flute playing techniques, as well as highlighting themes of equality, inclusiveness and our relationship with the natural world.

Bloomsbury Radio chat to UK Tango Championship finalists Emma Lucia Reyes (UK) and Carlos Cisneros (Argentina) who will breathe new life into Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango, reimagining his iconic arrangement with a performance of live dance and audio-visual effects re-telling the story of tango for a contemporary audience. 

Bloomsbury Radio chat to young trainees working on the New Bloomsbury Set, an arts and heritage project run by Bloomsbury Festival and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project brings together local community groups, residents, and artists in Bloomsbury to create a series of exhibitions and events that explore Bloomsbury’s diverse history, identity, and cultures past and present.

Bloomsbury Radio chat to Elena Paolini about Bloomsbury’s Women Medical Pioneers 

Bloomsbury Radio chat to Dance Movement Psychotherapist, Noel Datta about one of India’s most loved Bollywood icons, Meena Kumari and an upcoming performance “The Life of Meena Kumari, Bollywood star”.

Bloomsbury Radio chat to Alisa Oleva about Rap Reflections with Wanda Canton coming up at the Bloomsbury Festival. Hate it or love it, rap music tends to make us feel a certain way. Since its origins it has been conflated with gangs and violence for some, but for others is a powerful and political form of expression. Wanda Canton argues that the way we listen to rap music is important for society more widely and can help facilitate crucial conversations. Sometimes words are not enough to express how we feel or what we are experiencing. Playing with rhythm, sound and body language can support us to broaden our expression, to find ways of listening to others and being heard. In an over-simulating world, paying attention to sound can help to quieten the noise around us by making some ourselves. This interactive workshop aims to create an experimental space to practice creative writing and sound exercises. Using both individual and group work, we will explore how language and sound can empower us and perhaps find moments of connection with, or compassion for others. We will consider how to command our language to be creative in a comfortable way.

Bloomsbury Radio chat to Giuseppe Mario Urso about ‘A Room of one’s own’ - an intimate video installation by local artist Giuseppe Mario Urso. The work intertwines space and emotion to create a private place where you can observe St Pancras Church and its surroundings from a different point of view. An immersive video experience that turns an enclosed space into a ‘bird hide’ which then reveals the outside world to the watchers. Inspired by the concept of “liminal space” developed by the anthropologist Arnold van Gennep, the installation functions as an unconventional device to unlock all the restraints accumulated during the lockdown. A liminal space is a transitional place between spaces – a now between before and after.