Front Row: Archive 2013 - Sting; Australian art at the Royal Academy

Download Sting; Australian art at the Royal Academy

With John Wilson.

Sting discusses The Last Ship, his latest album and the first original material he has released for nearly a decade. Based on Sting's experiences growing up in a shipbuilding community on Tyneside, The Last Ship is a narrative about the demise of the industry seen through the eyes of a range of characters. Sting talks about the autobiographical element of the songs, and how he is writing a Broadway musical about the same subject, which is due to open next year.

Australia, at the Royal Academy in London, is the first major survey of Australian art in the UK for over 50 years, and includes work by early 19th century settlers, aboriginal artists, impressionists, and 20th century painters such as Sidney Nolan. Charlotte Mullins reviews.

Front Row announces the winner of Gramophone magazine's Recording Of The Year 2013, and John talks to the winning artist.

Producer Rebecca Nicholson.

Published on Tuesday, 17th September 2013.

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