Bobby McFerrin, Mari Kalkun, The Handmaid's Tale

Tom Service talks to virtuoso vocalist Bobby McFerrin about the latest chapter in his musical life and his ceaseless creativity. He’s been inspiring audiences to make music with him during concerts for decades, and now, following a Parkinson’s diagnosis, he is taking this further as he starts to perform live again. Bobby reflects on his early solo shows, the improvisation technique ‘circle singing’ which he developed in the 1980s and whether music can really bring peace to the world.

Folk musician Mari Kalkun comes to the studio with her kannel, a traditional Estonian plucked string instrument with a long history which plays a central role in much of her music. Mari talks to Tom about her personal and artistic response to the war in Ukraine and how musical activism is now an essential part of her role as an artist.

We visit English National Opera to find out more about a new production of Poul Ruders’s The Handmaid's Tale, based on Margaret Atwood’s seminal novel. Tom is joined by director Annilese Miskimmon, mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey who sings Offred and soprano Emma Bell who sings Aunt Lydia, to explore how the story is being brought to life on stage and why it is a shattering story of our times.

Plus conductor and harpsichordist Rinaldo Alessandrini tells us about the irresistible theatrical energy of Vivaldi's 'L'estro armonico' concertos from 1711 and why placing them alongside reworkings by JS Bach on his new recording with his ensemble Concerto Italiano offers a new perspective and a thrilling ride.

Image: © Carol Friedman