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Last broadcast on Sun, 25 Sep 2011, 20:30 on BBC Radio 4 (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
Matthew Bannister on
The former Afghan president Burhannudin Rabbani, assassinated as he was leading attempts to start peace talks with the Taliban.
The conductor Kurt Sanderling, who fled from the Nazis to the Soviet Union and was renowned for his interpretations of Shostakovitch. We hear from his son, Thomas, also a well known conductor.
The gay rights activist Arthur Evans who led non violent protests against discrimination in 1970s New York.
The Italian mountaineer Walter Bonatti, who was falsely accused of trying to sabotage the first successful ascent of the world's second highest mountain, K2
And the banjo player Wade Mainer who was 104 when he died - a last surviving link to the heyday of hillbilly music on 1930s American radio.
BURHANUDDIN RABBANI
Ethnic Tajik Jihadi, former president of Afghanistan and head of the peace council who has died aged 71.
Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani played an important role in the history of Afghanistan. He was a religious and political thinker, a Mujahideen leader who fought the Soviets, President of the country as it descended into civil war, a leader of the opposition to the Taliban and latterly in charge of starting peace talks with them. His assassination has thrown the political process in the country into disarray.
Matthew spoke to BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet and to the former Afghan diplomat Omar Samad.
Burhanuddin Rabbani was born 1940 and died 20 September 2011.
KURT SANDERLING
German conductor renowned for his interpretations of the music of his friend Shostakovich who has died aged 98.
Kurt Sanderling was born into a German Jewish family, studied piano in Konigsberg and Berlin and landed a job as a repetiteur at the Berlin State Opera in 1931. But, as the Nazis rose to power, he was dismissed and eventually fled to the Soviet Union, where was introduced to the composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
Last Word hears from the music critic and writer Norman Lebrecht, and from Kurt’s son Thomas, who followed his father into the conducting profession.
Kurt Sanderling was born 19 September 1912 and died 17 September 2011.
ARTHUR EVANS
Gay advocate and author who has died aged 68.
Arthur Evans was an activist and campaigner for Gay Rights, who first came to prominence in New York in the early 1970s. After the famous Stonewall riot of 1969 when many gay people took part in disorder to protest about rules which prohibited bars from serving them with alcohol, Arthur joined the Gay Liberation Front. He quickly became disillusioned with its lack of focus, so within months he and a group of other like minded people founded the Gay Activists’ Alliance.
Matthew spoke to his friend and fellow campaigner Hal Offen, and to Daniel Stewart, who became the first openly gay elected mayor in New York State.
Arthur Evans was born 12 October 1942 and died 11 September 2011.
WALTER BONATTI
Leading Italian mountaineer whose career was dogged by controversy who has died aged 81.
Walter Bonatti was one of the finest climbers of the twentieth century. But for much of his life, his many achievements were overshadowed by a controversy over an expedition which took place in 1954. Bonatti was falsely accused of trying to sabotage the successful ascent of the world’s second highest mountain, K2. It was only in 2009 that his name was officially cleared by the Italian Alpine Club.
Matthew spoke to fellow Italian climber Reinhold Messner and to the writer and climber Ed Douglas.
Walter Bonatti was born 22 June 1930 and died 13 September 2011.
WADE MAINER
One of the last survivors of 'hillbilly' music's radio heyday of the 1930s who has died aged 104.
The banjo player and singer Wade Mainer was one of the last survivors of the 1930s heyday of American hillbilly music. With his brother JE and other musicians, he formed a band called Mainer’s Mountaineers who regularly performed on radio shows in the south eastern states. When he retired from his day job in the 1970s, he was pleasantly surprised to find a whole new audience for his music.
Matthew spoke to his biographer Dick Spotswood.
Wade Mainer was born 21 April 1907 and died 12 September 2011.
Chapters
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Chapter 1
The former Afghan president Burhannudin Rabbani, assassinated as he was leading attempts to start peace talks with the Taliban.
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Chapter 2
The conductor Kurt Sanderling, who fled from the Nazis to the Soviet Union and was renowned for his interpretations of Shostakovitch. We hear from his son, Thomas.
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Chapter 3
The gay rights activist Arthur Evans who led non violent protests against discrimination in 1970s New York.
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Chapter 4
The Italian mountaineer Walter Bonatti, who was falsely accused of trying to sabotage the first successful ascent of the world's second highest mountain, K2.
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Chapter 5
The banjo player Wade Mainer who was 104 when he died - a last surviving link to the heyday of hillbilly music on 1930s American radio.
Broadcasts
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Fri 23 Sep 201116:00
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Sun 25 Sep 201120:30
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