BBC Radio 3 and Operacast.com Offerings

I've been listening to the offerings on Operacast.com and BBC Radio 3 for some time now.

Gluck is the Composer of the Week on BBC Radio 3

I didn' know Gluck at all until I listened last night. Took the top of my head off! I hear Gluck in Beethoven. Incredibly modern. From very dark to humorous. I've yet to listen to the Wednesday program, but the Tuesday hour is not to be missed. Bartoli exquisite. Must listen to her again. I am told she has toned down her "theatrics." It's too bad Gluck isn't performed as frequently in America. Perhaps in Europe. B

Playlist
Overture (La Rencontre imprevue)
Orchestre de L'Opera de Lyon conducted by John Eliot Gardiner
Erato 2292-45516-2 CD1 t1

'Tremo fra' dubbi miei' (La clemenza di Tito)
Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano)
Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin led by Bernhard Forck
Decca 467 248-2 t1

Larghetto and Allegro non troppo (Don Juan)
English Baroque Soloists conducted by John Eliot Gardiner
Erato 2292-45980-2 t30-31

Act III (Orfeo ed Euridice)
Bernarda Fink (Orfeo)
Veronica Cangemi (Euridice)
Maria Cristina Kiehr (Amore)
RIAS Chamber Choir
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra conducted by Rene Jacobs
Harmonia Mundi 901742.32 CD2 t7-18

For those of you not familiar with BBC Radio 3, it is simply found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/ and Operacast is Operacast.com. The latter offers opera schedules around the world, Catalonia, France, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Australia, USA, Slovakia. Time given in GMT and EST. All programs available to the listener via the Internet. Lucky us!

GLUCK'S IPHIGENIE & TAURIDE
Normal Radio 3 life goes on still amid the anniversary celebrations, as we continue to bring you specially recorded performances. One not to miss is Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride on the evening of Saturday, October 6th. It’s an exciting new production of Gluck's masterwork from the Royal Opera House, featuring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham in the title role.
Opera on 3

Belle, thanks for pointing out Operacast.com. An interesting resource.

Watch the whole of Sally Potter's sharp new production of Carmen for the English National Opera, on demand for 7 days from 6.30pm on Saturday 3 November 2007.

This is the first time that BBC Radio 3 has video streamed an opera, and the first time a UK opera house has offered a complete production online.

Carmen online is a co-production between ENO and BBC Radio 3, in association with Adventure Pictures and is part of the ENO Sky Arts Season. The production is directed by filmmaker Sally Potter (Orlando, The Tango Lesson), who has also directed the video streaming.

You have a choice of views: one filmed from the perspective of the audience in the auditorium at the London Coliseum, and the other from backstage.

The videos will be available for 7 days from 6.30pm on 3 November, when the opera is broadcast on Radio 3.

>5 belleyang: Please don't miss this English National Opera "Carmen." Sultry, sultry! If you like traditional opera, this is not for you. I loved the staging, the acting, the voices! Make sure to click on the stand alone player so you can enlarge viewing frame. Available until Friday, November 9th.

> 5

There's something wrong with your URL. I get to BBC radio 3, but the page says
"Sorry, the requested web page does not exist".

>7 lilithcat: Oh, how frustrating. I don't know why some links work and some don't. Lilithcat, try the link in Message #2 or just google BBC Radio 3 and you will see the opera on home page. Please let me know what you think when you find it and are able to listen

I'll take a stab at the link:

Carmen on the BBC

Good luck,

Robert

Post script: The link works. I've watched a few minutes.

It looks like there is a lot of production in the production, which surprises me having experienced Potter's movies. It is in a modern setting.

On my laptop's speakers I can hear it but not anywhere near theatrical levels.

There are no subtitles. Despite that it is in English you might want the libretto at hand.

Have fun,

Robert

Tried again, and got to the right page. Unfortunately, my computer doesn't have the right media player. :-((

I think it's very cool that they did a video of the backstage view!

BTW, I was able to watch audience view and backstage view at the same time.

For my iMac, I purchased a JBL Creature II speaker system with a subwoofer--that term always makes laugh--plugged it into the speaker outlet and now I feel as if I am right a recital hall. Very inexpensive speaker systems (under $100) can make a huge difference when you are listening to opera or classical stations. Worth the money. I wish I had bought them much earlier. I didn't know what I was missing until I had the speakers. They are good for laptops, too!

I think this English Carmen by the English National Opera will ignite interest in a whole new generation. One of my "traditionalist," older friends doesn't this production. One commented that Deborah Coote's voice was too light for the role of Carmen.

I loved it all--being able to see up close and watching the bodies as musical instruments; the huge, muscular exertion of the chest as Carmen inhales and prepares to let it rip! You can feel the expenditure of energy and the huge volume of air it takes to bring out the music.

Tonight's Opera on 3: Verdi's La Traviata From the Royal Opera House. This critically acclaimed Royal Opera House production is led by a stellar cast including Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, tenor Jonas Kaufmann and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

Sean Rafferty presents from the Royal Opera House in conversation with writer and opera critic Alexandra Wilson.

Remember that this broadcast can be accessed up to seven days after the date of broadcast. For further information see the LibraryThing Radio 3 Group page.

Todays Opera on 3 is Puccini's Manon Lescaut Live from the Met. Phenomenal Finnish soprano Karita Mattila sings the title role for the first time at the Met. The drama of a free-spirited beauty whose equal need for love and luxury causes her downfall was to be the young Puccini's first great success. A score full of youthful and erotic passion. Marcello Giordani is Manon's young lover des Grieux and the Met's Music Director, James Levine, conducts.

Presented by Margaret Juntwait from New York and she is joined in the broadcast booth by performer, director and writer Ira Siff as guest commentator.

I saw and heard Kari Mattila perform this role at S.F. Opera last fall. She is excellent in the role -- a superb vocal instrument, but perhaps lacking a touch of Italian drama in her vocal characterization.

Opera on 3 this evening comes live from the Met and is Verdi's Otello. This masterpiece from Verdi's operatic Indian Summer triumphs on multiple levels: philosophical, human, and dramatic. South African tenor Johan Botha brings real ardour to the title role, and Renee Fleming returns to one of her most celebrated roles, the doomed Desdemona. Semyon Bychkov conducts a vintage production by Elijah Moshinsky.

Desdemona ...... Renee Fleming (soprano)
Otello ...... Johan Botha (tenor)
Iago ...... Carlo Guelfi (baritone)
Emilia ...... Wendy White (mezzo-soprano)
Cassio ...... Garrett Sorenson (tenor)
Roderigo ...... Ronald Naldi (tenor)
Montano ...... Charles Taylor (baritone)
Lodovico ...... Kristinn Sigmundsson (bass)
Herald ...... David Won (baritone)
Chorus and Orchestra of New York Metropolitan Opera
Semyon Bychkov (conductor)

Radio 3 has two relevant broadcasts today. At 10.30am Richard Morrison reviews three new opera DVDs: Eugene Onegin from the New York Met starring Renee Fleming; Mussorgsky's epic drama Khovanshchina from Barcelona's Liceu; and a real rarity - Thomas Hampson as Busoni's anti-hero Doktor Faust.

Opera on 3 this evening is Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Lucia ...... Natalie Dessay (soprano)
Edgardo ...... Giuseppe Filianoti (tenor)
Enrico ...... Mariusz Kwiecien (baritone)
Raimondo ...... John Relyea (bass)
Alisa ...... Michaela Martens (mezzo-soprano)
Arturo ...... Stephen Costello (tenor)
Normanno ...... Michael Myers (tenor)
Chorus and Orchestra of New York Metropolitan Opera
James Levine (conductor)

Tonight on Radio 3: Live from the Met. Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes. At once unstable and unpredictable, visionary and violent, fisherman Peter Grimes is as much misunderstood outsider as victim of his own weaknesses and contradictions. Set in a small, small-minded Suffolk fishing village, Britten's searing psychological drama has never been out of the repertory since its stunning 1945 premiere. It was this work, with its epic tenor role and breathtaking orchestral score, which established Britten as one of the great opera composers of the twentieth century.

Peter Grimes.............. Anthony Dean Griffey (tenor)
Ellen Orford............... Patricia Racette (soprano)
Balstrode.................. Anthony Michaels-Moore (baritone)
Mrs. Sedley............... Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano)
Auntie..................... Jill Grove (mezzo-soprano)
1st Niece.................. Leah Partridge (soprano)
2nd Niece................. Erin Morley (soprano)
Bob Boles................ Greg Fedderly (tenor)
Rev. Horace Adams.... Bernard Fitch (tenor)
Ned Keene............... Teddy Tahu Rhodes (baritone)
Swallow.................. John Del Carlo (bass-baritone)
Hobson................... Dean Peterson (bass-baritone)

Opera on 3 is Wagner's Tristan and Isolde Live from the Met. Saturday 22 March 2008 16:30-21:45. Direct from New York, James Levine conducts Deborah Voigt as Isolde in her debut in this role at the Met. She is joined by tenor Robert Dean Smith as Tristan in Wagner's exploration of the agony and the ecstasy of erotic love. After unwittingly drinking a love potion, Tristan and Isolde fall deeply in love with each other, but their romance faces opposition from King Marke and can only end in tragedy.

The score of Tristan changed the course of music history with its restless harmonies that represent "the insatiable and sweet craving for the secrets of night and death." James Levine conducts.

Robert Dean Smith is replacing the indisposed Ben Heppner and in fact this will be his MET debut. This evening's broadcast will include the legendary Met Opera Quiz (click on the link for information on how to send in your questions) hosted by mezzo-soprano Felicity Palmer, (who appeared in last Saturday's broadcast of Peter Grimes), and live interviews with the cast backstage.

Presented from New York by Margaret Juntwait with Ira Siff as guest commentator.

Isolde................. Deborah Voigt (soprano)
Tristan............... Robert Dean Smith(tenor)
Brangane............. Michelle DeYoung (mezzo-soprano)
Kurnewal............. Eike Wilm Schulte (baritone)
King Marke.......... Matti Salminen (bass)
Sailor's Voice...... Tony Stevenson (tenor)
Shepherd........... Mark Schowalter (tenor)
Melot................ Stephen Gaertner (baritone)
Steersman......... James Courtney (bass-baritone)

James Levine (Conductor)
Orchestra and Chorus of New York Metropolitan Opera

Opera on 3 is Verdi's Ernani Live from the Met. Live from New York, Roberto Abbado conducts a production of Verdi's fifth opera with a cast led by Sicilian tenor Marcello Giordani as Ernani and with an international trio of singers in other principal roles.

Amid disguises, duels and conspiracies, the nobleman Silva, the King of Spain and Ernani the bandit all vie for the love of Elvira, due to be married to her uncle and guardian.

Elvira ...... Sondra Radvanovsky (soprano)
Ernani ...... Marcello Giordani (tenor)
Don Carlo ...... Thomas Hampson (baritone)
De Silva ...... Ferruccio Furlanetto (bass)
Giovanna ...... Wendy White (mezzo-soprano)
Don Riccardo ...... Ryan Smith (tenor)
Jago ...... Keith Miller (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of New York Metropolitan Opera
Roberto Abbado (conductor)

Opera on 3 this evening is Puccini's La Boheme, Live from the Met. Saturday 5 April 2008 18:30-21:45 (Radio 3).

Direct from New York, Nicola Luisotti conducts Angela Georghiu and Ramon Vargas in the lead roles in Puccini's portrayal of the poverty and tragedy of bohemian life in Paris. Rodolfo and Mimi fall in love immediately after meeting in a freezing garret, but their happiness is blighted by jealousy, their harsh living conditions and then grave illness.

Mimi ...... Angela Gheorghiu (soprano)
Rodolfo ...... Ramon Vargas (tenor)
Marcello ...... Ludovic Tezier (baritone)
Schaunard ...... Quinn Kelsey (baritone)
Colline ...... Oren Gradus (bass)
Musetta ...... Ainhoa Arteta (soprano)
Benoit/Alcindoro ...... Paul Plishka (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of New York Metropolitan Opera
Nicola Luisotti (conductor).

Opera on 3: Live from the Met. Time: 18:30 to 21:40 (3 hours and 10 minutes long). Donizetti's La fille du regiment: Live from New York, Marco Armiliato conducts soprano Natalie Dessay and tenor Juan Diego Florez in Donizetti's two-act opera comique. Marie, found abandoned as a baby on the battlefield is adopted and raised by soldiers, but when it is discovered that she is actually an aristocrat, she must bid farewell to the regiment - and her lover. Presented from New York by Margaret Juntwait, with soprano Renee Fleming hosting backstage interviews during the interval with the artists, including stars Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez. Natalie Dessay, soprano (Marie), Felicity Palmer, mezzo (Marquise of Berkenfeld), Juan Diego Florez (tenor (Tonio), Alessandro Corbelli, baritone (Sulpice), Zoe Caldwell, voice (Duchess of Krakenthorp), Donald Maxwell, baritone (Hortensius), Roger Andrews, baritone (Corporal), Orchestra and Chorus of New York Metropolitan Opera/Marco Armiliato.

Reports in the newspapers this week highlighted the string of top c's produced by Florez and the encores demanded of him.

Opera on 3: Live from the Met 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long). Mozart's Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail: Direct from New York, David Robertson conducts soprano Diana Damrau and tenor Matthew Polenzani in Mozart's exploration of the clash of cultures between East and West, set in 18th-century Turkey. The plot concerns Spanish nobleman Belmonte's efforts to rescue his beloved Konstanze after she is captured by pirates and sold to the Pasha Selim for his harem in Turkey. The programme, which also includes backstage interviews with the artists during the intervals, is presented from New York by Margaret Juntwait. Diana Damrau, soprano (Konstanze), Aleksandra Kurzak, soprano (Blondchen), Matthew Polenzani, tenor (Belmonte), Steve Davislim, tenor (Pedrillo), Kristinn Sigmundsson, bass (Osmin), Matthias von Stegmann (Pasha Selim), Chorus and Orchestra of New York Metropolitan Opera/David Robertson.

Opera on 3 this evening at 18:30 to 20:35 (2 hours and 5 minutes long). Richard Strauss's Salome.

David McVicar's new production for The Royal Opera features Philippe Jordan conducting soprano Nadja Michael as Salome alongside baritone Michael Volle as Jokanaan. In Strauss's disturbing one-act opera, based on the play by Oscar Wilde, the adolescent Salome, stepdaughter of King Herod, is attracted to Jokaanan, who rejects him. When the lustful King Herod offers her anything she desires in return for dancing in front of him, she enacts vicious revenge on Jokaanan. The programme, which includes a discussion of the undercurrents of the opera with the conductor, director and members of the cast, is presented by Suzy Klein. Nadja Michael, soprano (Salome), Michaela Schuster, soprano (Herodias), Daniela Sindram, mezzo (Page to Herodias), Thomas Moser, tenor (Herod), Joseph Kaiser, tenor (Narraboth), Michael Volle, baritone (Jokanaan), Iain Paterson, bass (First Nazarene), Andrew Mayor, baritone (Second Nazarene), Christian Sist, bass (First Soldier), Alan Ewing, bass (Second Soldier), Adrian Thompson, tenor (First Jew), Martyn Hill, tenor (Second Jew), Hubert Francis, tenor (Third Jew), Ji-Min Park, tenor (Fourth Jew), Jeremy White, bass (Fifth Jew), Vuyani Mlinde, bass (A Cappadocian), Pumeza Matshikiza, soprano (Slave), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House/Philippe Jordan.

Opera on 3 18:30 to 21:00 (2 hours and 30 minutes long). Verdi's Falstaff. Peter Stein directs a revival of his celebrated production of Verdi's comic opera, in a performance given by Welsh National Opera at the Wales Millennium Centre last March. Sir John Falstaff has plans to seduce the wife of a rich local merchant, but Alice and her husband have each made their own arrangements to trick the roguish knight. Who will have the final laugh? Presented by Donald Macleod. Bryn Terfel, baritone (Sir John Falstaff), Anthony Mee, tenor (Dr Caius), Neil Jenkins, tenor (Bardolph), Julian Close, bass (Pistol), Janice Watson, soprano (Alice Ford), Clare Ormshaw, soprano (Nannetta), Imelda Drumm, mezzo (Meg Page), Anne-Marie Owens, mezzo (Mistress Quickly), Christopher Purves, baritone (Ford), Rhys Meirion, tenor (Fenton), Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera/Carlo Rizzi.

Opera on 3 today at 18:30 to 21:15 (2 hours and 45 minutes long). Birtwistle's The Minotaur. In a performance given at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in April, Antonio Pappano conducts John Tomlinson in the title role, with Christine Rice as Ariadne in the world premiere of Harrison Birtwistle's latest opera, based on the classic Greek myth. Hidden away deep in the labyrinth in Crete is a man with a bull's head who feeds on young men and women sent as tribute from Athens. One day the hero Theseus arrives among these innocents and with the help of Ariadne and her thread, he ventures into the labyrinth intending to kill the beast. Presented by Ivan Hewett. Christine Rice, mezzo (Ariadne), John Tomlinson, bass (The Minotaur), Johan Reuter, baritone (Theseus), Rebecca Bottone, soprano (First Innocent), Pumeza Matshikiza, soprano (Second Innocent), Wendy Dawn Thompson, mezzo (Third Innocent), Christopher Ainslie, countertenor (Fourth Innocent), Timothy Mead, countertenor (Fifth Innocent), Amanda Echalaz, soprano (Ker), Andrew Watts, countertenor (Snake Princess), Philip Langridge, tenor (Hiereus), The Royal Opera Chorus, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House/Antonio Pappano.

Opera on 3 this evening. BBC Radio Three. Saturday 14th June 2008 (starting this evening). Time: 18:30 to 22:30 (4 hours long). Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier.

In an ENO production from London's Coliseum, David McVicar directs Strauss's comic opera about age and class, featuring soprano Janice Watson, mezzo Sarah Connolly and bass John Tomlinson, with the company's music director Edward Gardner conducting. The story tells of the love triangle between the noble Marschallin, her young lover Octavian and Sophie, daughter of the nouveau riche Herr von Faninal. The boorish Baron Ochs has his sights set on Sophie and Octavian has to deal with him as well as his own feelings for the two women in his life. Presented by Andrew McGregor. Janice Watson, soprano (The Feldmarschallin), Sarah Connolly, mezzo (Octavian), John Tomlinson, bass (Baron Ochs), Sarah Tynan, soprano (Sophie), Andrew Shore, bass (Herr von Faninal), Madeleine Shaw, mezzo (Annina), Stuart Kale, tenor (Valzacchi), Janice Cairns, soprano (Duenna), Barry Banks, tenor (Singer), Nicholas Folwell, baritone (Police Commissar), James Gower, bass (Notary), Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera/Edward Gardner.

Another programme of interest yesterday was CD Review when Andrew McGregor introduced Radio 3's weekly programme devoted to all that's new in the world of recorded music. Including: 9.30 Building a Library: Alexandra Wilson compares three dozen versions of Puccini's La boheme on CD and DVD.

This programme is available online for seven days.

...And the favoured recording of La Boheme is still the old Beecham mono recording from the 50s with Bjorling, de los Angeles and Merril.

Quite right too, IMHO.

I'll have to look for a copy of the Beecham-Bjorling-de los Angeles. The Von Karajan-Pavarotti-Freni rendition is quite fine (and excellent sound), IMHO.

Today, my local PBS station broadcast this spring's Met performance with Luisotti-Vargas-Gheorghiu. The voices were wonderful, though I thought Luisotti's tempos were a tad slow.

Opera on 3. On: BBC Radio Three. Date: Saturday 21st June 2008 (starting this evening). Time: 18:30 to 20:30 (2 hours long). Birtwistle's Punch and Judy. In an ENO production from London's Young Vic Theatre, Edward Gardner conducts a performance of Harrison Birtwistle's controversial modernist opera, featuring bass Andrew Shore and mezzo-soprano Lucy Schaufer in the title roles. The composer's first work for the stage, Punch and Judy takes its inspiration from the traditional seaside puppet shows and follows Mr Punch as he murders a succession of characters, including his own baby, while pursuing his dream girl, Pretty Polly. Presented by Ivan Hewett. Andrew Shore, baritone (Punch), Lucy Schaufer, mezzo (Judy/Fortune Teller), Gillian Keith, soprano (Pretty Polly/Witch), Ashley Holland, baritone Choregos/Jack Ketch), Graham Clark, tenor (Lawyer), Graeme Broadbent, bass (Doctor). Orchestra of English National Opera/Edward Gardner.

Opera on 3. On: BBC Radio Three Date: Saturday 28th June 2008 (starting this evening). Time: 18:30 to 22:30 (4 hours long). Verdi's Don Carlo.

A production from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden of Verdi's tragic love story set 16th-century Spain, directed by Nicholas Hytner and conducted by Antonio Pappano, with tenor Rolando Villazon and Marina Poplavskaya in the central roles. Don Carlos, heir the Spanish thone and the French Elisabeth de Valois are in love, and remain so even after she is forced to marry his father, King Philip II. However, when Princess Eboli, who is in love with Don Carlos finds out, she informs the King, who engineers a grim fate for him. Presented by Christopher Cook. Rolando Villazon, tenor (Don Carlos), Marina Poplavskaya, soprano (Elizabeth of Valois), Paula Murrihy, soprano (Tebaldo, Elizabeth's page), Rodrigo, Dmitri Tiliakos, baritone (Marquis of Posa), Ferrucio Furlanetto, bass (Philip II, King of Spain), Sonia Ganassi, mezzo (Princess Eboli), Eric Halfvarson, bass (Grand Inquisitor), Robert Lloyd, bass (Monk), Jacques Imbrailo, baritone, Krzysztof Szumanski, Kostas Smoriginas, Daniel Grice, bass-baritone, Darren Jeffrey, Vuyani Mlinde, bass (Flemish Deputies), Nikola Matisic, tenor (Herald/Count of Lerma), Anita Watson, soprano (Voice from Heaven). The Royal Opera Chorus, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House/Antonio Pappano.

Verdi's Don Carlo is one of his very greatest operas. It it is a tragedy that superimposes the love story of Don Carlos, heir to the Spanish throne, and the French Elizabeth de Valois onto the stormy political and religious affairs of the time. Verdi creates six great character portraits including Don Carlos's father, King Philip II, the prince's great friend Rodrigo and the Grand Inquisitor, one of the darkest of all operatic roles. The Royal Opera has assembled a superb cast led by star tenor Rolando Villazon in the title role with Marina Poplavskaya as Elizabeth de Valois. Dimitri Tiliakos sings the part of Rodrigo and the hugely-experienced bass Ferruccio Furlanetto is the deeply troubled King. Nicholas Hytner has directed the Schiller play that provides the basis of the story and brings that experience to bear on his work in the opera-house.

Don Carlos ...... Rolando Villazon(tenor)
Elizabeth of Valois ...... Marina Poplavskaya (soprano)
Tebaldo (Elizabeth's page) ...... Paula Murrihy (soprano)
Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa ...... Dmitri Tiliakos (baritone)
Philip II (King of Spain) ...... Ferrucio Furlanetto (bass)
Princess Eboli ...... Sonia Ganassi (mezzo-soprano)
Grand Inquisitor ...... Eric Halfvarson (bass)
Carlos V ...... Robert Lloyd (bass)
Flemish Deputies ...... Jacques Imbrailo (baritone), Krzysztof Szumanski (bass-baritone), Kostas Smoriginas (bass-baritone), Daniel Grice (bass-baritone), Darren Jeffrey (bass), Vuyani Mlinde (bass)
Herald/Count of Lerma ...... Nikola Matisic (tenor)
Voice from Heaven ...... Anita Watson (soprano)

The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Antonio Pappano (conductor)

I saw this production (Don Carlo) at the ROH this week. Well worth setting aside 4 hours to listen to, I believe. Marina Poplavskaya was off with a sore throat so we heard her cover, Victoria Nava, who gave a very creditable performance. It will be interesting to compare her with the principal.

I particularly enjoyed Ferrucio Furlanetto as a very creepy Philip II.

Well worth listening to last week - I caught most of it. I noticed that some of the newspaper critics were down on Rolando Vliiazon but I thought it a fine performance.

Todays performance, then:

Opera on 3. On: BBC Radio Three. Date: Saturday 5th July 2008 (starting this evening). Time: 18:30 to 22:30 (4 hours long). Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro.

Direct from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Charles Mackerras conducts bass-baritone Ildebrando D'Arcangelo and soprano Aleksandra Kurzak in a revival of David McVicar's critically praised production of Mozart's comic opera. The scene is Figaro's wedding day, and his master Count Almaviva is determined to reinstate his feudal right to the favours of Figaro's fiancee Susanna. Amid various mistaken identities and then reconciliations, Susanna and her mistress, the long-suffering Countess, plot to ensure that this cannot happen. Presented by Suzy Klein. Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, bass-baritone (Figaro), Aleksandra Kurzak, soprano (Susanna), Peter Mattei, baritone (Count Almaviva), Barbara Frittoli, soprano (Countess Almaviva), Anna Bonitatibus, mezzo-soprano (Cherubino), Ann Murray, mezzo (Marcellina), Robert Lloyd, bass (Bartolo), Robin Leggate, tenor (Don Basilio), Harry Nicoll, tenor (Don Curzio), Kishani Jayasinghe, soprano (Barbarina), Donald Maxwell, baritone (Antonio), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Charles Mackerras.

Figaro ...... Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (bass-baritone)
Susanna ...... Aleksandra Kurzak (soprano)
Count Almaviva ...... Peter Mattei (baritone)
Countess Almaviva ...... Barbara Frittoli (soprano)
Cherubino ...... Anna Bonitatibus (mezzo-soprano)
Marcellina ...... Ann Murray (mezzo-soprano)
Bartolo ...... Robert Lloyd (bass)
Don Basilio ...... Robin Leggate (tenor)
Don Curzio ...... Harry Nicoll (tenor)
Barbarina ...... Kishani Jayasinghe (soprano)
Antonio ...... Donald Maxwell (baritone)
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera Chorus
Charles Mackerras (conductor)

>34 antimuzak: Re: Rolando Villazon. I entirely agree that he sang and acted very well. I like his type of tenor. Sometimes I get a little worried that I am much more easily satisfied than the critics, who obviously know much more than me and have heard much more opera. Then I think, hey, I've enjoyed this evening much more than they did, and feel better. ;-)

Opera on 3. On: BBC Radio Three. Date: Saturday 12th July 2008. Time: 18:30 to 20:35 (2 hours and 5 minutes long). Berg's Wozzeck. A new production from the Opera Bastille in Paris of Alban Berg's dark and disturbing modernist opera, directed by Christoph Marthaler and conducted by Sylvain Cambreling, a noted interpreter of 20th-century scores. Baritone Simon Keenlyside sings the title role for the first time, with leading German soprano Angela Denoke as Wozzeck's common-law wife Marie. Wozzeck, an impoverished soldier stationed in Germany, agrees to undergo medical experimentation in order to gain some extra money for his family. As his mind begins to disintegrate, he experiences dark visions and paranoia until, when confronting his wife about an 'infidelity', he wreaks brutal revenge. Presented by Andrew McGregor. Simon Keenlyside, baritone (Wozzeck), Angela Denoke, soprano (Marie), Gerhard Siegel, tenor (Captain), Roland Bracht, bass (Doctor), Jon Villars, tenor (Drum Major), David Keubler, tenor (Andres), Ursula Hesse von den Steinen, mezzo (Margret), Patrick Schramm, bass (First Apprentice), Igor Gnidii, baritone (Second Apprentice), John Graham-Hall, tenor (Madman), Maitrise des hauts de Seine/Choeur d'enfants de l'Opera national de Paris, Orchestra and Chorus of the Opera National de Paris/Sylvain Cambreling.

Tonight:

BBC Proms 2008. On: BBC Radio Three. Date: Thursday 31st July 2008. Time: 19:00 to 20:20 (1 hour and 20 minutes long). Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London, Suzy Klein presents the first act of Monteverdi's opera The Coronation of Poppaea. This tale of love, betrayal and murderous ambition is presented in a semi-staged version of the new production from Glyndebourne Festival Opera, with soprano Danielle de Niese and mezzo Alice Coote as the treacherous lovers Poppaea and Nero. Though based on historical characters, the battle of emotional wills at the centre of this drama has as many resonances today as it would have had for Monteverdi's 17th-century audience. Monteverdi: The Coronation of Poppaea (semi-staged; sung in Italian) (Act 1). Glyndebourne Festival Opera: Sonya Yoncheva (Fortune), Simona Mihai (Virtue), Amy Freston (Cupid), Iestyn Davies (Otho), Alice Coote (Nero), Danielle De Niese (Poppaea), Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke (Amalta), Tamara Mumford (Octavia), Arnet Drusilla (Marie), Paolo Battaglia (Seneca), Trevor Scheunemann (Mercury/Consul), Patrick Schramm (Lictor/Consul), Dominique Visse (Nurse/Friend), Claire Ormshaw (Lady-in-Waiting), Lucia Cirillo (Page), Andrew Tortise (Lucan/Soldier 1/Tribune/Friend), Peter Gijsbertsen (Liberto/Soldier 2/Tribune), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Emmanuelle Haim.

BBC Proms 2008 20:40 to 22:30 (1 hour and 50 minutes long). Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London, Suzy Klein presents the second act of Monteverdi's opera The Coronation of Poppaea, featuring soprano Danielle De Niese and mezzo Alice Coote. (Part 2).

Proms Artist Focus. On: BBC Radio Three. Date: Thursday 31st July 2008. Time: 22:30 to 23:00 (30 minutes long). The featured artists are the vocal ensemble I Fagiolini, who are heard in a selection of Italian music, including Gabrieli and Monteverdi.