More from Private passions:

The Serbian/British author Vesna Goldsworthy describes herself as an “orthodox agnostic”—another good entry in the catalogue of religious affiliations.

Wonderful playlist, too. From here it is not too far to Kapka Kassabova’s Border: tales from the edge of Europe on Radio 4’s Book of the week.

After a wealth of gorgeous Slavic music Goldsworthy ends (by contrast) with Purcell’s ineffable When I am laid in earth, with Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Here’s one of many other fine versions online (old and new):