Interview with UK composer Cecilia McDowall and poet Sean Street ahead of the world premiere of Seventy Degrees Below Zero as part of the Conquering the Antarctic tour (Feb - March 2012).

Conquering the Antarctic Webcast - Interview with Cecilia McDowall & Sean Street

This cantata tells the story of Nujeen, a young Kurdish refugee from Aleppo.  She and her elder sister Nasrine make a remarkable and harrowing journey of 3500 miles over land and sea across seven countries, all the more astounding because Nujeen is confined to a wheelchair.  Nasrine actually pushes her all the way from Syria to Germany, and that's where they are granted asylum and now live. Nujeen and BBC journalist and author, Christina Lamb, have together written a memoir of this time called, 'The Girl from Aleppo'. The poet and author, Kevin Crossley-Holland has subtly woven together his own poetry with words of Nujeen’s to bring this extraordinary journey to life.

Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo

Cecilia McDowall

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