Opera

Saturday 8th February 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Berlioz: Faust.

Berlioz's take on the Faust legend comes to the Met stage in a concert presentation, with tenor Michael Spyres singing the doomed and besotted Faust, opposite mezzo-soprano El?na Garan?a as the forsaken Marguerite and bass Ildar Abdrazakov as the malevolent Méphistophélès. Edward Gardner conducts. Berlioz: Faust. Elina Garanca (mezzo: Marguerite), Michael Spyres (tenor: Faust), Ildar Abdrazakov (bass: Méphistophélès), Patrick Carfizzi (baritone: Brander), New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Metropolitan Opera Chorus, conductor Edward Gardner.

Saturday 15th February 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Massenet: Manon.

Massenet's opera Manon. It tells the story of the impulsive title character, who falls in love with young student des Grieux. Manon longs for luxury and excitement, and she foolishly cannot resist when rich nobleman De Brétigny wants to make her his mistress. Her choice of wealth over love ultimately seals her fate. Massenet: Manon. Presented from New York by Mary Jo Heath and Ira Siff. Lisette Oropesa (soprano: Manon), Michael Fabiano (tenor: Le Chevalier des Grieux), Carlo Bosi (tenor: Guillot de Morfontaine), Artur Ruci?ski (baritone: Lescaut), Brett Polegato (baritone: Monsieur de Brétigny), Kwangchul Youn (bass: Le Comte des Grieux), Jacqueline Echols (soprano: Poussette, an actress), Laura Krumm (mezzo: Javotte, an actress), Maya Lahyani (mezzo: Rosette, an actress), Paul Corona (bass-baritone: An innkeeper), Mario Bahg (tenor: Guardsman 1), Jeongcheol Cha (baritone: Guardsman 2), Edyta Kulczak (mezzo: A maid), Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conductor Maurizio Benini.

Saturday 22nd February 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

From the Met in New York - Mozart: Marriage of Figaro.

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, his evergreen comic opera depicting the political and social clashes in 18th-century Seville, featuring a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, and based on the controversial play by Beaumarchais. Bass Adam Plachetka takes on the title role with baritone Mariusz Kwiecien as Count Almaviva and soprano Anita Hartig as the Countess. Presented by Mary Jo Heath, with commentator Ira Siff, from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Anita Hartig (soprano: Countess Almaviva), Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (soprano: Susanna), Marianne Crebassa (mezzo: Cherubino), Maryann Mccormick (soprano: Marcellina), Mariusz Kwiecien (baritone: Count Almaviva), Adam Plachetka (bass: Figaro), Maurizio Muraro (bass: Bartolo), Maureen Mckay (soprano: Barbarina), Keith Jameson (tenor: Don Basilio), Tony Stevenson (tenor: Don Curzio), New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Metropolitan Opera Chorus, conductor Cornelius Meister.

Saturday 29th February 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Giulio Cesare in Egitto.

Martin Handley presents this performance of one of the most popular operas of the Baroque, Handel's 'Giulio Cesare in Egitto', first performed in London in 1724, recorded at last year's George Enescu International Festival held bi-annually in Bucharest. With Christopher Lowry as Cesare and Karina Gauvin as Cleopatra and Les Talens Lyriques conducted by Christophe Rousset. Karina Gauvin (soprano: Cleopatra), Ann Hallenberg (mezzo: Sesto), Christopher Lowrey (counter-tenor: Giulio Cesare), Kacper Szelazek (counter-tenor: Tolomeo), Eve-Maud Hubeaux (mezzo: Cornelia), Ashley Riches (baritone: Achilla). Les Talens Lyriques Orchestra, Christophe Rousset (harpsichord).

Saturday 14th March 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Wagner: The Flying Dutchman.

Wagner's The Flying Dutchman from the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. Evgeny Nikitin sings the legendary Dutchman, cursed to sail his ghostly ship for eternity and only allowed ashore every seven years. The only way to break the curse is to find a woman who will be faithful to him until death. Presented by Mary-Jo Heath with commentator Ira Siff. Wagner: The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Holländer). Evgeny Nikitin (bass-baritone: The Dutchman), Anja Kampe (soprano: Senta), Mihoko Fujimura (mezzo: Mary), Sergei Skorokhodov (tenor: Erik), David Portillo (tenor: Daland's steersman), Franz-Josef Selig (bass: Daland), New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Metropolitan Opera Chorus, conductor Valery Gergiev.

Saturday 21st March 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

La Cenerentola.

From the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Rossini's effervescent take on the Cinderella story. Casting the title role as a virtuoso mezzo-soprano, Rossini turns the fairy-tale stereotypes into fleshed-out characters with some touching and witty music along the way. Mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught sings Cenerentola, the girl neglected by her family, and tenor Javier Camarena as her Prince Charming, who sees her true worth despite the rags. James Gaffigan conducts the lively action. Tara Erraught (soprano: Angelina (Cenerentola)). Javier Camarena (tenor: Don Ramiro). So Young Park (soprano: Clorinda). Maya Lahyani (mezzo-soprano: Tisbe). Davide Luciano (baritone: Dandini). Maurizio Muraro (bass: Don Magnifico). Christian Van Horn (bass: Alldoro). New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Metropolitan Opera Chorus, James Gaffigan (conductor).

Saturday 28th March 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Beethoven: Fidelio from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The triumph of love, courage and freedom over oppression, tyranny and evil are the eternal themes of Beethoven's only opera, a project close to his heart but which cost him dear in over a decade of revisions and rewrites. Recorded at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden earlier this month, and the hot ticket of the season, Antonio Pappano conducts a dream team of a cast led by two of the most celebrated singers on today's operatic stage. Soprano Lise Davidsen plays Leonore, the devoted wife of Florestan (tenor Jonas Kaufmann), whose love for her wrongly imprisoned husband means she will stop at nothing to ensure his freedom. It causes all sorts of problems, from disguising herself as a man, Fidelio, and having to reject the unwelcome advances of Marzelline, the love-struck jailer's daughter, to courageously risking her life in a touch-and-go mission to free Florestan. Beethoven's thrilling darkness-to-light journey is presented by Tom Service in conversation with the Rev Lucy Winkett, including contributions from conductor and cast. Beethoven: Fidelio. Act 1. 7.55 Interval. Tom Service and the Rev Lucy Winkett explore some of the themes of Beethoven's Fidelio and the way they have been interpreted in this production, with comments from Lise Davidsen, Antonio Pappano and Tobias Kratzer. 8.15 Act 2. Lise Davidsen (soprano: Leonore), Jonas Kaufmann (tenor: Florestan), Georg Zeppenfeld (bass: Rocco), Simon Neal (baritone: Don Pizarro), Amanda Forsythe (soprano: Marzelline), Robin Tritschler (tenor: Jaquino), Egils Silinš (bass-baritone: Don Fernando), Filipe Manu (tenor: First Prisoner), Timothy Dawkins (bass: Second Prisoner). Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conductor Antonio Pappano.

Fidelio was our last live opera for the foreseeable future - just got in before the shutdown. We didn’t see Kaufmann as he was ‘indisposed’ but had David Butt Philip instead. He was booked to sing the role at Glyndebourne in July/August so was well prepared and even managed the idiosyncratic second act with aplomb. This production has a very traditional period Act 1* - even if set in revolutionary France - but Act 2 is strange: a lump of rock centre stage, to which Florestan is chained, in a featureless white box with rows of chairs on which the chorus, in modern dress, sit facing the audience and observing said rock. Not my style!

Star of the show was Lise Davidsen, marvellous voice and tall enough to be entirely convincing as a bloke. I will listen again for her sake, but I’m looking forward to hearing Kaufmann.

* they even manage a real, and very well behaved, horse.

I was planning to see Fidelio at the cinema before they all closed abbott.

Today:

Saturday 4th April 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Gluck's Orphee et Eurydice from the Royal Opera House.

Another chance to hear Gluck's Orphee et Eurydice from the Royal Opera House in 2015. John Eliot Gardiner conducts the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir in a rare outing for the French 1774 version of Gluck's opera, written for a high tenor, and with extended ballet sequences to suit the Parisian audiences. Orpheus has been allowed by the gods to visit the Underworld to bring his deceased Eurydice back, on condition that he doesn't look at her. Juan Diego Florez plays Orpheus, with Lucy Crowe as his beloved Eurydice. Donald Macleod also talks to John Eliot Gardiner about the opera's historical significance, and directors John Fulljames and Hofesh Shechter discuss their production in which the orchestra and dancers are completely integrated with the soloists and chorus. First broadcast October 2015. Gluck: Orphée et Eurydice. Juan Diego Florez (tenor: Orphée), Lucy Crowe (soprano: Eurydice), Amanda Forsythe (soprano: Amour), Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, conductor John Eliot Gardiner.

Saturday 11th April 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Kurt Weill: Street Scene.

Petroc Trelawny presents a performance of Opera North's highly acclaimed production of Kurt Weill's 1946 operatic masterpiece Street Scene recorded at the Leeds Grand Theatre. Petroc is joined by Kara McKechnie, professor of dramaturgy at Leeds University. During the interval we hear from Kim Kowalke, President of the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music and rare recordings of Kurt Weill himself both singing and speaking on American radio in the 1940s. Weill: Street Scene. Giselle Allen (Anna Maurrant), Robert Hayward (Frank Maurrant), Gillene Butterfield (Rose Maurrant), Alex Banfield (Sam Kaplan), Miranda Bevin (Greta Fiorentino), Christopher Turner (Lippo Fiorentino), Claire Pascoe (Emma Jones), Richard Mosley-Evans (George Jones), Michelle Andrews (Mae Jones), Rodney Vubya (Dick Mcgann), Amy J Payne (Olga Olsen), John Savournin (Carl Olsen), Byron Jackson (Henry Davis), Quirijn De Lang (Harry Easter), Stuart Laing (Daniel Buchanan), Dean Robinson (Abraham Kaplan), Laura Kelly-McInroy (Jennie Hildebrand), Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North, conductor James Holmes.

Thursday 23rd April 2020 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 14:00 to 16:30 (2 hours and 30 minutes long)

Cherubini: Medea from the Salzburg Festival.

Cherubini's Médée, an opera in three acts, from the Salzburg Festival. Presented by Penny Gore. Elena Stikhina (Médée: soprano), Pavel Cernoch (Jason: tenor), Vitalij Kowaljow (Créon: bass), Rosa Feola (Dirce: soprano), Alisa Kolosova (Néris: mezzo). Vienna State Opera Chorus and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Hengelbrock (conductor). 4.10 James MacMillan: Larghetto for Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck (conductor). Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 63. Baiba Skride (violin). Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor).

Saturday 25th April 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Richard Strauss: Ariadne Auf Naxos.

Another chance to hear the Royal Opera House's 2014 revival of Strauss's Ariadne Auf Naxos, for the composer's 150th anniversary year. Karita Mattila stars as the Prima Donna who appears later as Ariadne, and Roberto Sacca is the Tenor, later Bacchus, in this often humorous work which once again sets a libretto by Strauss's greatest collaborator, Hugo von Hoffmansthal. Presented by Ivan Hewitt. Strauss: Ariadne Auf Naxos. Karita Mattila (soprano: Ariadne/The Prima Donna), Roberto Sacca (tenor: Bacchus/The Tenor), Jane Archibald (soprano: Zerbinetta), Ruxandra Donose (mezzo: The Composer), Markus Werba (baritone: Harlequin), Thomas Allen (baritone: Music Master), Ed Lyon (tenor: Dancing Master), Ashley Riches (baritone: Wig Maker), Jihoon Kim (bass baritone: Lackey), Wynne Evans (singer: Scaramuccio), Paul Schweinester (Brighella), Jeremy White (bass: Truffaldino), David Butt Philip (baritone: Officer), Sofia Fomina (soprano: Naiad), Karen Cargill (mezzo: Dryad), Kiandra Howarth (soprano: Echo), Christopher Quest (speaker: Major Domo), Royal Opera House Orchestra, conductor Antonio Pappano.

Saturday 2nd May 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Puccini's Turandot Recorded at the New York Met.

Mary Jo Heath and Ira Siff present Franco Zeffirelli's production of Turandot, Puccini's final masterpiece, recorded at the Metropolitan Opera in 2016. Puccini's score has been described as both modern and romantic, reflecting eastern harmonies and making imaginative use of the orchestra. Nina Stemme performs the title role of the proud princess of ancient China, whose riddles doom every suitor who seeks her hand, opposite Marco Berti as the brave prince Calàf, who sings Nessun Dorma. Puccini: Turandot. Nina Stemme (soprano: Turandot), Anita Hartig (soprano: Liú), Marco Berti (tenor: Calàf), Alexander Tsymbalyuk (bass-baritone: Timur), Ronald Naldi (tenor: Emperor Altoum), Dwayne Croft (baritone: Ping), Tony Stevenson (tenor: Pang), Eduardo Valdes (tenor: Pong), David Crawford (baritone: Mandarin), Arthur Lazalde (silent role: Executioner), Sasha Semin (tenor: Prince of Persia), Anne Nonnemacher (soprano: Handmaiden), Mary Hughes (mezzo-soprano: Handmaiden), The Chorus and Orchestra of Metropolitan Opera, New York, conductor Paolo Carignani.

Thursday 7th May 2020 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 14:00 to 17:00 (3 hours long)

Opera Matinee: Cav and Pag.

Penny Gore introduces Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni and Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, a popular double-act collectively referred to as Cav and Pag. Roberto Alagna plays the lead in both, Turidu and Canio, whose destructive relationships with women cause everyone's downfall. The operas are followed by another highlight of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's season from Glasgow City Halls. Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana, opera in one act, adapted from a play and short story by Giovanni Verga. Elena Pankratova (soprano: Santuzza, a peasant girl), Roberto Alagna (tenor: Turiddu, a young villager recently returned from the army), María Luisa Corbacho (contralto: Mamma Lucia, Turiddu's mother), Gabriele Viviani (baritone: Alfio, a carter), Mercedes Gancedo (mezzo: Lola, wife of Alfio). 3.10 Leoncavallo: Pagliacci, opera in a prologue and two acts. Roberto Alagna (tenor, Canio, head of the troupe - Pagliaccio/Pierrot, Colombina's Husband), Aleksandra Kurzak (soprano: Nedda, Canio's wife, in love with Silvio - Colombina, Pagliaccio's wife, in love with Arlecchino), Gabriele Viviani (baritone: Tonio the fool - Taddeo, Colombina's servant) Vicenç Esteve (tenor: Beppe, actor - Arlecchino, Colombina's lover), Duncan Rock (baritone: Silvio, Nedda's lover), Amics de la Unió Children's Chorus, Gran Teatre del Liceu Chorus and Orchestra, conductor Henrik Nánási. 4.25 Tchaikovsky Suite No 4 in G Op 61 (Mozartiana). BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Martyn Brabbins.

Saturday 9th May 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Janácek's Katya Kabanova Recorded at the New York Met.

Janácek's three-act opera Katya Kabanova, recorded at the New York Met in 2004. The soprano Karita Mattila takes the title role as the wife longing for love, trapped in an unhappy marriage, victim of a domineering mother-in-law and a repressive society in this tragic story, based on The Storm, a play by Alexander Ostrovsky. Presented by Mary Jo Heath, with commentator Ira Siff. Janácek: Katya Kabanova. Karita Mattila (soprano: Katya, Tichon's wife), Judith Forst (contralto: Marfa Ignatevna Kabanová, a widow), Magdalena Kožená (mezzo: Varvara, a foundling), Jorma Silvasti (tenor: Boris Grigorjevi?, Dikój's nephew), Chris Merritt (tenor: Tichon Ivany? Kabanov, Marfa's son), Raymond Very (tenor: Vána Kudrjaš, a schoolteacher), Sebastian Catana (baritone: Kuligin, friend of Vána Kudrjaš), Vladimir Ognovenko (bass-baritone: Savël Prokofjevic Dikój, a merchant), Janet Hopkins (mezzo: Glaša, a servant), Diane Elias (mezzo: Fekluša, a servant), Charlotte Philley (contralto: Townswoman), Dennis Williams (tenor: Passer), Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conductor Jirí Belohlávek.

Saturday 16th May 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Donizetti's Maria Stuarda.

Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, from the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. When queens Elizabeth and Mary confront each other, regal pride, mistrust and years of hatred ignite one of Donizetti's most compelling scenes in this history-based opera. Donizetti: Maria Stuarda. Joyce DiDonato (mezzo: Maria Stuarda, Queen of Scotland), Elza van den Heever (soprano: Elisabetta, Queen of England), Maria Zifchak (mezzo: Anna Kennedy, Maria's companion), Matthew Polenzani (tenor: Roberto, Earl of Leicester), Joshua Hopkins (baritone: Lord Guglielmo Cecil, Chancellor of the Exchequer), Matthew Rose (bass: Giorgio Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York, conductor Maurizio Benini. Originally broadcast in 2013.

Saturday 30th May 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Carmen.

Another chance to her this 2002 production of Bizet's Carmen, arguably the best-loved opera in the world, by David McVicar of Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Philippe Jordan conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Glyndebourne Chorus, with Anne Sofie von Otter in the title role. Presented by Martin Handley. Bizet: Carmen. Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo: Carmen), Marcus Haddock (tenor: Don Jose), Laurent Naouri (baritone: Escamillo), Lisa Milne (soprano: Micaela), Mary Hegarty (soprano: Frasquita), Hans Voschezang (bass: Morales), Jonathan Best (bass: Zuniga), Christine Rice (mezzo: Mercedes), Quentin Hayes (bass: Le Dancaire), Colin Judson (tenor: Le Remendado), Anthony Wise (speaker: Lilas Pastia), Franck Lopez (speaker: Le Guide), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Chorus, conductor Philippe Jordan.

Saturday 6th June 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

La Cenerentola by Rossini: Glyndebourne Greats.

Rossini's La Cenerentola, based on the Cinderella tale, the last in a short season of great performances recorded at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival over the past couple of decades. Mezzo Ruxandra Donose takes on Cinderella, one of the finest roles written by Rossini, as the young girl forced to serve as maid in her own home by her stepfather, the evil Don Magnifico, sung by the baritone Alessandro Corbelli. Not all is lost as redemption comes by way of love, thanks to the Prince of Salerno, sung by the tenor Maxim Mironov - and the intervention of a fair amount of luck too. Presented by Martin Handley. Rossini: La Cenerentola. Ruxandra Donose (mezzo), Alessandro Corbelli (baritone: Don Magnifico), Maxim Mironov (tenor: Don Ramiro), Raquela Sheeran (soprano: Clorinda), Lucia Cirillo (mezzo: Tisbe), Umberto Chiummo (bass-baritone: Alidoro), Pietro Spagnoli (baritone: Dandini), the Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment, conductor Vladimir Jurowski.

Saturday 13th June 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 20:00 (1 hour and 30 minutes long)

Szymanowski: Krol Roger.

Szymanowski's rarely performed masterpiece, Król Roger (King Roger), from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden with Mariusz Kwiecien in the title role, conducted by Antonio Pappano in a production by Kasper Holten. Szymanowski's great opera, which had its premiere in 1926, grew out of his passion for Mediterranean culture as an amalgam of different peoples and religions. It also treats some of the themes that first appeared in his lost homoerotic novel Efebos. Set in 12th-century Sicily, the opera traces the journey to enlightenment of the Christian King Roger II through his encounter with a mysterious pagan Shepherd. While Roger's court call for the Shepherd to be put to death, Roger's queen Roxana urges her husband to accept the Shepherd's creed. Roger gradually realizes that he can only maintain his integrity by neither merely upholding the law of the church, or by yielding to the wild freedom (symbolised in abandoned dances) of the Shepherd and his followers. In his final ecstatic soliloquy, Roger attains self-realization. Andrew McGregor presents the performance, first broadcast in 2015, with guest Nicholas Baragwanath and including interviews with the conductor, director and principal singers. Sung in Polish. Mariusz Kwiecien (baritone: King Roger II of Sicily), Saimir Pirgu (tenor: Shepherd), Georgia Jarman (soprano: Roxana), Kim Begley (tenor: Edrisi), Alan Ewing (bass: Archbishop), Agnes Zwierko (mezzo: Deaconess), The Royal Opera Chorus, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conductor Antonio Pappano.

Saturday 20th June 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Britten: a Midsummer Night's Dream.

Britten's adaptation of Shakespeare's magical romance A Midsummer Night's Dream recorded at Snape Maltings Concert Hall as part of the 2017 Aldeburgh Festival - 50 years since the same opera opened the concert hall in 1967. The cast is led by Iestyn Davies and Sophie Bevan, and conducted by Ryan Wigglesworth. Presented by Andrew McGregor, joined in the interval by Britten specialist Paul Kildea. Britten: A Midsummer Night's Dream. Iestyn Davies (countertenor: Oberon), Sophie Bevan (soprano: Tytania), Jack Lansbury (actor-singer: Puck), Clive Bayley (bass: Theseus), Matthew Rose (bass: Bottom), Leah-Marian Jones (mezzo: Hippolyta), Nick Pritchard (tenor: Lysander), George Humphreys (baritone: Demetrius), Clare Presland (mezzo: Hermia), Eleanor Dennis (soprano: Helena), Andrew Shore (bass: Quince), Lawrence Wiliford (tenor: Flute ), Sion Goronwy (bass: Snug), Nicholas Sharratt (tenor: Snout), Simon Butteriss (baritone: Starveling), Elliot Harding-smith (treble: Cobweb), Noah Lucas (treble: Moth), Adam Warne (treble: Mustardseed), Ewan Cacace (treble: Peaseblossom). Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra, Aldeburgh Festival Singers, conductor Ryan Wigglesworth.

Saturday 4th July 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Strauss: Elektra.

Richard Strauss's Elektra, from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducted by Andris Nelsons. The Greek hero Agamemnon returns home from the Trojan war, only to be murdered by his wife Klytämnestra and her lover Aegisthus. His daughter Elektra has become possessed by a desperate need to revenge her father and will not rest until she has done so. Strauss's music plunges the audience straight into this psychologically intense and violent world, and Charles Edwards' production highlights the moral decay at its heart. Presented by Louise Fryer. Strauss: Elektra. Christine Goerke (soprano: Elektra), Adrianne Pieczonka (soprano: Chrysothemis), Michaela Schuster (soprano: Klytämnestra), Louise Armit (mezzo: Confidante), Marianne Cotterill (soprano: Trainbearer), Douglas Jones (tenor: Young Servant), Jeremy White (bass: Old Servant), Iain Paterson (bass: Orest), John Cunningham (bass: Orest's Companion), John Daszak (tenor: Agisth), Elaine McKrill (soprano: First Maid), Anna Burford (mezzo: Second Maid), Catherine Carby (mezzo: Third Maid), Elizabeth Sikora (mezzo: Fourth Maid), Elizabeth Woollett (soprano: Fifth Maid), Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra, conductor Andris Nelsons.

Saturday 11th July 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Monteverdi - L'Orfeo.

Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, who descends to Hades to bring his dead wife back to the living world. Marc Mauillon sings the title role, with Sofie Lund-Tonnesen as Euridice. Lars Ulrik Mortensen conducts Concerto Copenhagen. Presented by Martin Handley. Monteverdi: L'Orfeo - favola in musica in five acts. Marc Mauillon (baritone: Orfeo), Sofie Lund-Tonnesen (soprano: Euridice), Ellen Larsson (soprano: La Musica/Speranza), Philippa Cold (soprano: Ninfa/Proserpina), Mia Bergström (mezzo: Messagiera), Thomas Lichtenecker (countertenor: Pastore), Gerald Geerink (tenor: Pastore/Eco), Mark Milhofer (tenor: Apollo), Kyungil Ko (bass: Caronte), Nicolai Elsberg (bass: Plutone), Joel Kyhle (bass: Spirito), Concerto Copenhagen, conductor Lars Ulrik Mortensen.

Thursday 30th July 2020 (starting this afternoon)
Time: 14:00 to 17:00 (3 hours long)

Puccini's Tosca from the Aix Festival 2019.

Puccini's tragic masterpiece Tosca from the Theatre de l'Archeveche, Aix-en-Provence, starring soprano Angel Blue in the title role. It tells the tale of the love between Tosca and Cavaradossi pitted against the plotting of the evil chief of police, Baron Scarpia. Folowed by music from the Lugano Festival in Switzerland. Puccini: Tosca. Presented by Tom McKinney. Angel Blue (soprano: Tosca), Catherine Malfitano (soprano: Prima Donna), Joseph Calleja (tenor: Mario Cavaradossi), Alexey Markov (baritone: Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police), Simon Shibambu (bass: Cesare Angelotti, a former consul), Leonardo Galeazzi (baritone: Sacristan), Jean-Gabriel Saint-Martin (bass: Sciarrone, a police agent), Michael Smallwood (tenor: Spoletta, a police agent), Lyon Opera Chorus, Children's Chorus and Orchestra, conductor Daniele Rustioni. Followed by music from festivals in Switzerland. 4.00 Chopin: Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante in E flat, Op 22. Polina Leschenko (piano). 4.15 Bruno Soeiro: Sillages, Sons de Parfums (world premiere). Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No 2 in D minor, Op 119. Sol Gabetta (cello), Basel Chamber Orchestra, conductor Pierre Bleuse.

Saturday 1st August 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Janácek: The Makropulos Affair.

Janácek's opera The Makropulos Affair. Another chance to see this August 2016 Prom from the Royal Albert Hall, London. Jirí Belohlávek conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers and a cast including Karita Mattila in this drama of immortality, death and the purpose of life. Janacek: The Makropulos Affair (concert performance; sung in Czech). Karita Mattila (soprano: Emilia Marty), Aleš Briscein (tenor: Albert Gregor), Gustáv Belácek (bass-baritone: Dr Kolenatý), Jan Vacík (tenor: Vítek), Kristina, Eva Šterbová (soprano: Vitek's daughter), Svatopluk Sem (baritone: Baron Jaroslav Prus), Aleš Vorácek (tenor: Janek), Jan Ježek (tenor: Count Hauk- Šendorf), Jiri Klecker (baritone: Stage technician), Yvona Škvárová (contralto: Cleaning woman), Jana Hrochová-Wallingerová (contralto: Chambermaid), BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jirí Belohlávek.

Saturday 19th September 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischutz.

Weber: Der Freischutz. Christopher Cook presents one of the first masterpieces in German Romantic opera, recorded at the Edinburgh International Festival 2004. The plot revolves around the forester Max, portrayed by tenor Jonas Kaufmann, once an excellent marksman who has seemingly lost his touch. How far will he go to win the hand of his beloved Agathe, performed by soprano Hillevi Martinpelto? Hillevi Martinpelto (soprano: Agathe), Ailish Tynan (soprano: Annchen), Jonas Kaufmann (tenor: Max), Ronan Collett (baritone: Kilian), Christopher Maltman (baritone: Ottokar), John Relyea (bass-baritone: Kaspar), Matthew Rose (bass: Hermit), Siegfried Vogel (bass: Voice of Samiel), Carolyn Dobbin, Catriona Holt, Gail Johnson, Madeleine Shaw (mezzos: Bridesmaids), Philharmonia Chorus, chorus master Robert Dean, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conductor Charles Mackerras.

Saturday 3rd October 2020 (starting this evening)
Time: 18:30 to 22:00 (3 hours and 30 minutes long)

Mozart: Don Giovanni.

Mozart's ever-popular Don Giovanni from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Mariusz Kwiecien sings the charismatic seducer who meets his match in the ghost of the man he kills, and Véronique Gens, Malin Bystrom and Elizabeth Watts sing the women who get drawn helplessly into his net. Louise Fryer presents, and talks to director Kasper Holten about his interpretation of Mozart and Da Ponte's characters. Mozart: Don Giovanni. Mariusz Kwiecien (baritone: Don Giovanni), Alex Esposito (bass: Leporello), Alexander Tsymbalyuk (bass: Commendatore), Véronique Gens (soprano: Donna Elvira), Malin Bystrom (soprano: Donna Anna), Antonio Poli (tenor: Don Ottavio), Elizabeth Watts (soprano: Zerlina), Dawid Kimberg (baritone: Masetto), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conductor Nicola Luisotti.