Vindaloo

Shostakovich for Syria

A Syrian Clarinetist leads off a symphonic benefit concert at Carnegie Hall for his war-weary homeland tonight. It's moving, inspiring, but has America (and the west in general)  tuned-out to the dire needs of the refugees - especially the children? The video version is online here. 

And my radio piece is here: 

Shostakovich for Syria BBC Matt Wells story

 

 

Darlene Love backstage at Letterman

Just before Christmas, I went backstage at the Letterman Show to interview Darlene Love. The most famous singer you've (likely) never heard of. She was a treat to meet. 

Download Darlene Love interview BBC

She wouldn't take her glasses off due to lack of makeup. Classy. 

Brits over Broadway

You can't move for British acting talent on Broadway this season, led by the two thespian knights, Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart. They let me into their dressing room just before Christmas for a joint interview, and Stephen Fry also gave me his two-cents. This piece ran on Radio 4's PM: 

Download Brits on Broadway BBC Matt Wells

Rush, the Pope and the President

What does the Francis Effect mean in Washington? I've never seen so many Catholic power-brokers and pundits smiling so much inside the Beltway. This ran on Radio 4's Sunday, but they snipped out my nuns at the end, for time. Have a listen. 

Download Francis in Washington BBC story Wells

The bishops' headquarters. Inside joke is that this is Christ hailing a cab. They're hard to get round there. 

Grow-your-own sapphires

Meet the furnace that does in a week, what it takes nature 50,000 years to do. My normal corporate scepticism was blown away by how interesting making synthetic sapphire is. The Rubicon factory near Chicago, let me in for a peak at the technology which means you'll never break your iPhone screen again (once they start making the screens from the stuff). BBC Business Daily paid for the plane ticket: 

Download Sapphire factory BBC Matt Wells

Look at the size of this bling:

 

Cashing in the past for god's glory

Tonight the leadership of Old South in Boston will be at Sotheby's in NY to see their 1640 psalter fetch a world-record price for any single book (listed at $15-$30 million). Most church members see it as freeing up capital for good works, and guarantee the future. A minority still think it's an historic betrayal. My piece for Radio 4's Sunday: 

Download Boston psalm book BBC story

 

Eating Art @ #MOMA #Magritte

"Edible Magritte" at MOMA allows you to eat the art you've just seen on the wall. Tasty, inspiring, and a seriously good night out for those who love to sate the senses. Hats-off to the vivacious artist in charge, Elaine Tin Nyo. This was for BBC World Service. 

Download Edible Magritte BBC Matt Wells

And then there were Meshnets (again)

A story that took me from Barcelona to Bushwick. Quirky. BBC Radio 4. 

Download Meshnets Matt Wells BBC

Harry Rosen's table talk

He's 104 in a few weeks, but Harry Rosen's dedicated his final years to living well. Every night, he eats out in a Manhattan restaurant, and he's never alone for long. I joined him for dinner, on behalf of the BBC's Newshour show. Click on this link below. 

Download Harry Rosen Matt Wells BBC story

And he's still a chick magnet too. 

Camden Town

It's America's most dangerous and impoverished town and the cops weren't helping change that. So they all got fired, and now there's a mostly-new crew policing the run-down streets trying to help an optimistic mayor get Camden's mojo back. Can it work? I went to find out, for BBC Radio 4. This was taped in June, so stats may be iffy now it's (late) August. 

Download Camden story