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Sandra Knapp

Michael Berkeley's guest is the botanist Sandra Knapp, who has worked extensively in the rainforests of Central and Southern America, finding and naming undiscovered plants.

The botanist Dr Sandra Knapp is a senior researcher at the Natural History Museum - but that title doesn鈥檛 convey the sheer adventure of her work. She鈥檚 a kind of Indiana Jones of the plant world, travelling to remote regions of Central and Southern America and beyond. Her speciality is the Solanum genus, which includes potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines 鈥� and she has found and named more than a hundred new varieties.

The rainforests, where she has worked for more than 40 years, are a long way from the dry rural deserts of New Mexico, where she was born.

Her music choices include works by Mozart, Brahms, Hindemith and Holst, as well as music inspired by the biodata of some of her beloved plants.

Presenter Michael Berkeley
Producer Katy Hickman

27 days left to listen

1 hour, 26 minutes

Last on

Sunday 12:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet No. 12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127: I. Maestoso - Allegro

    Ensemble: Orion String Quartet.
    • Beethoven: Late String Quartets.
    • eOne Music International Classics.
    • 1.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 26, All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray

    Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Academy for Ancient Music Berlin. Conductor: Justin Doyle.
    • Handel: Messiah, HWV 56.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 205.

  • Paul Hindemith

    Pantomime (Cardillac)

    Performer: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne. Conductor: Joseph Keilberth.
    • Hindemith: Cardillac; Mathis der Maler (Excerpts).
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sull'aria (from The Marriage of Figaro)

    Singer: Kathleen Battle. Singer: Margaret Price. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.
    • Wiener Philharmoniker - Mozart.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 36.

  • Yin Carrizo

    Celos

    Performer: Yin Carrizo.
    • Celos.
    • Tamayo Records.
    • 1.

  • Alonso Lobo

    Versa est in luctum

    Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • Requiem: Music for All Saints & All Souls.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 8.

  • Helen Anahita Wilson

    Jersey Royal

    • Nightshade.
    • Flag Day Recordings.
    • 7.

  • Trad.

    Personent Hodie

    Performer: Patrick Russill. Music Arranger: Gustav Holst. Choir: The Choir of the London Oratory. Choir: London Oratory Junior Choir. Director: Andrew Carwood.
    • Festival of Nine lessons and Carols, from The London Oratory.
    • Classics for Pleasure.
    • 23.

  • Karine Polwart

    Rivers Run

    Singer: Karine Polwart.
    • This Earthly Spell.
    • Hegri Music.
    • 04.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Viola Sonata in E flat Op.120 No.2 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Pinchas Zukerman. Performer: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Brahms: The Violin Sonatas; The Viola Sonatas.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).

Broadcast

  • Sunday 12:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

Podcast

  • Private Passions

    Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical passions.