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A New Age mystic who fell out of favour for his apolitical views - how true a characterisation is this of the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 \\u2013 1926)? Anne McElvoy discusses the work and legacy of the visionary poet, from his idiosyncratic use of figures and images from both Classical mythology and Christianity to explore existential themes. Her guests are Lesley Chamberlain, author of a new biography; composer Ninfea Crutwell-Reade whose Vigil I is a setting of the first poem in the sequence 'Vigilien' by Rainer Maria Rilke; and New Generation Thinker Se\\xe1n Williams, who lectures in German and European Cultural History at the University of Sheffield. In addition to discussing Rilke, Se\\xe1n also sheds light on Walpurgisnacht Night and the folk traditions of the night before May Day when witches are said to meet on the Brocken Mountain.

You can find more about Ninfea's music at https://ninfeacruttwellreade.com/\\nNew Generation Thinker Se\\xe1n Williams has made Sunday features for Radio 3 about ice skating https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013837\\nand the history of luxury https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0003rpl\\nLesley Chamberlain's biography Rilke: The Last Inward Man is out now http://www.lesleychamberlain.co.uk/

Producer: Luke Mulhall