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From the Steppes to the Stage

How baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaataar rose from the Monglian steppe to operatic stardom.

Internationally-acclaimed opera star Ariunbaatar Ganbaataar was born into a family of nomadic herders on the immense Mongolian steppe. In this hypnotic audio portrait, journalist Kate Molleson visits his family's ger to discover whether Mongolia's unique traditional culture – perhaps even its landscape itself – is the secret of his extraordinary vocal alchemy. Kate is treated to a performance of Mongolian longsong - the nation's traditional classical singing art - as well as joining Ariunbaatar on horseback to hear the songs he sang as a young boy, alone in the vast wilderness.

(Photo: Ariunbaatar Ganbaataar stands outside his family's ger)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Thu 15 Mar 2018 02:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Wed 14 Mar 2018 21:32GMT
  • Wed 14 Mar 2018 23:32GMT
  • Thu 15 Mar 2018 02:32GMT