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Lyse Doucet, journalist

Michael Berkeley's guest is the BBC's chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet.

When Lyse Doucet was a child growing up in a small town in eastern Canada, she borrowed a library book called How to Become a Journalist. It clearly made an impact. She is now the BBC’s chief international correspondent and has reported from some of the world’s most challenging countries, including Afghanistan and Iran, for more than 40 years.

This year she won the Women’s Prize for non-fiction for her first book, The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People's History of Afghanistan, in which she explores the country’s recent history through the story of Kabul’s landmark Inter-Continental Hotel.

Lyse's choices include music by Elgar, Sibelius, Bach and Einaudi.

18 days left to listen

1 hour, 26 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Sep 202612:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sonatina (Cantata no.106 'Actus Tragicus')

    Music Arranger: György Kurtág. Performer: Márta Kurtág. Performer: György Kurtág.
    • Kurtág: Játékok.
    • BMC Records.
    • 58.

  • Édith Butler

    J'étions fille du vent et d'Acadie

    Performer: Édith Butler.
    • L'espoir.
    • Spectra Musique.
    • 2.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Violin Concerto in D Minor Op.47 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Kyung-wha Chung. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto / Sibelius: Violin Concerto.
    • Decca.
    • 6.

  • Toumani Diabaté

    Bi Lambam

    Performer: Toumani Diabaté. Performer: Ballaké Sissoko.
    • New Ancient Strings.
    • Chrysalis Records.
    • 1.

  • Trad.

    Wa Wa Leili

    Singer: Abdul Wahab Madadi. Singer: Veronica Doubleday. Performer: John Baily.
    • Sweet Nomad Girl.
    • Metier.
    • 12.

  • Edward Elgar

    Nimrod (Enigma Variations, Op. 36)

    Orchestra: West–Eastern Divan Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Warner.

  • Karim Wasfi

    Baghdad Morning and Daily Melancholy (extract)

    Performer: Karim Wasfi.
    • Private recording.

  • Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni

    Adagio in G minor

    Composer: Remo Giazotto. Performer: Eduard Kaufmann. Orchestra: Lucerne Festival Strings. Conductor: Rudolf Baumgartner.
    • Albinoni: Adagio & Concerti.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Ludovico Einaudi

    Elegy for the Arctic

    Performer: Ludovico Einaudi.
    • Solo Piano.
    • Decca.
    • 16.

Broadcast

  • Sun 13 Sep 202612:00
    BBC Radio 3

Podcast