2016: Nina Plapp. A Cello in the Desert
4 Extra Debut. Nina Plapp - ±«Óãtv/RGS journey award winner - sets off for India, with her cello, in search of the roots of gypsy music. From 2016.
The 2016 winner of the ±«Óãtv/Royal Geographical Society dream journey award was Nina Plapp - who set off from the Isle of Wight with her cello 'Cuthbert' en route to India via Transylvania in a search for the roots of gypsy music.
Nina is a cellist from a large musical family and the energy and rhythms of gypsy music have always mesmerized her. Cuthbert, now 167 years old, has played in many an orchestra and was most recently under the guardianship of Nina's great aunt Bebe.
After a family send-off, Nina and Cuthbert head east on an adventure into the rich musical landscape of the gypsies. They first visit a family in Romania where she immerses herself in the wild rhythms and melodies of the Roma in rural Transylvania. Then they continue to India to seek out the original gypsies. On their way they join a chorus on the train through the desert, get locked inside a cupboard with singing girls in a Rajasthani village and play with the gypsy musicians at a wedding.
Producer: Neil McCarthy
First broadcast on ±«Óãtv Radio 4 in October 2016.
On radio
![]()
Find out more about the award given by the Royal Geographical Society.
Clips
Bopha musician Sugna Ram playing the ravanhatta
Nina in Jodhpur, The `Blue City'.
Family jam in the kitchen in Szaszcsavas, Transylvania
Rambling around the village of Szaszcsavas, Transylvania
Broadcasts
Fri 21 Oct 2016 11:00±«Óãtv Radio 4 FM- Mon 26 Mar 2018 11:00±«Óãtv Radio 4
- Tuesday 10:30±«Óãtv Radio 4 Extra
- Tuesday 16:30±«Óãtv Radio 4 Extra
- Next Wednesday 00:30±«Óãtv Radio 4 Extra
Journey of a Lifetime Award – Find full details
Fancy a £5,000 grant to make a journey and a radio programme telling the world about it?
Seriously...
Discover more seriously interesting radio documentaries.