Main content

Naomi Alderman

Michael Berkeley's guest is writer Naomi Alderman.

Naomi Alderman is a writer who likes to question established ways of thinking. In 2017 her novel The Power won the Bailey鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Prize for fiction. It imagines a world where women develop the ability to emit electric shocks from their fingers, leading to a worldwide reversal in the traditional balance of power between the sexes. The book became a global bestseller, and more recently a nine part TV drama.
A sense of rebellion was evident in the title of her first novel, Disobedience: it鈥檚 tale of a woman who questions the conventions of the strict Orthodox Jewish community in which she grew up, and draws in part on Naomi鈥檚 own experiences.
Along with four novels, Naomi created and written computer games, including Zombies, Run! This immersive app encourages you to improve your fitness 鈥 by running faster to escape predatory zombies.
Naomi's musical choices include Mozart, Respighi, Bach and Stephen Sondheim.

Photo of Naomi Alderman: Annabel Moeller.

Available now

37 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Jun 2023 12:00

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto no.4 in G major BWV.1049 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Concerto Italiano. Director: Rinaldo Alessandrini.
    • J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto Italiano/Alessandrini.
    • Naive.
    • 1.
  • Nigel Westlake

    Avinu Malkeinu (Compassion)

    Lyricist: Lior. Singer: Lior. Orchestra: Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Nigel Westlake.
    • Compassion.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).
    • 7.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    The Marriage of Figaro (Act 2 Finale)

    Lyricist: Lorenzo Da Ponte. Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Yannick N茅zet鈥怱茅guin.
    • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K.492.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 43.
  • Terry Riley

    In C

    Ensemble: Ensemble Batida.
    • Ensemble Batida: HYDR-X - Terry Riley: In C.
    • VDE-GALLO.
    • 2.
  • Ottorino Respighi

    Bergamasca (Ancient Airs and Dances)

    Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Henry Raudales.
    • Respighi: Antiche danze ed arie per liuto & Gli uccelli.
    • CPO.
    • 204.
  • Ferdinand H茅rold

    Clog Dance (La fille mal gardee)

    Music Arranger: John Lanchbery. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: John Lanchbery.
    • Herold/Lecocq: La Fille mal gardee: Royal Opera House Orchestra/Lanchbery.
    • Decca.
    • 17.
  • Stephen Sondheim

    Being Alive (Company)

    Lyricist: George Furth. Music Arranger: Wally Harper. Singer: Dean Jones. Conductor: Harold Hastings. Orchestra: Original Broadway Cast Orchestra.
    • Company (Original Broadway Cast Recording).
    • Masterworks Broadway.
    • 14.

Broadcast

  • Sun 18 Jun 2023 12:00

What makes Boogie-woogie piano legend Jools Holland tick?

What makes Boogie-woogie piano legend Jools Holland tick?

For Private Passions, Jools Holland revealed his piano history to Michael Berkeley.

11 things we learned from Harry Enfield鈥檚 Private Passions

11 things we learned from Harry Enfield鈥檚 Private Passions

Harry doesn't usually give interviews 鈥 but he couldn't say no to Michael Berkeley.

Archive Unlocked: Two Decades of Private Passions

Michael Berkeley introduces memorable interviews from Private Passions' archives.

Podcast