Matthew Sweet

Available for over a year

This week we’re all about soft power - between the Bangaranga-goings on of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, the Polish underground press and the influence of international radio, there’s lots to pick from geopolitically. Gary O’Donoghue relives the unexpected call he received from the Oval Office, and we reflect on the life of the English soprano Dame Felicity Lott, who has died at the age of 79. Presenter: Matthew Sweet Producer: Anthony McKee Editor: Steven Hobson Production Coordinators: Finlay McMaster and Sylvie Conway A BBC Audio Northern Ireland production for BBC Radio 4. Programmes featured in this episode include: Radio 2 Loves Eurovision!: Eurovision Grand Final Archive on 4: The Sound of Soft Power Witness History: Poland’s underground newspaper Desert Island Discs: Gary O'Donoghue The History Podcast: Sixty Years of Hurt - England v Mavericks Artworks: Mother: 100 years of Martha Graham Dance Front Row, 18/05: David Benedict on Felicity Lott This Cultural Life: Felicity Lott In the Studio: Thomas Keneally: What’s next for the Schindler’s List author? Sunday, 17/05: Professor Mary Fulbrook on the Holocaust Gardeners' Question Time: Serge Hill Project Through the Night, 24/05: Bulgarian Culture and Cyrillic Day