OPERA SEASON HIGHLIGHTS ON RADIO

Over the course of the autumn, Radio 3’s Opera Season includes seven operas that are being featured in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition dedicated to key moments in the history of opera (see p40). These include: Monteverdi L’incoronazione di Poppea A landmark 1642 work from the Renaissance era in Venice when opera was taking form on the public stage. Davide Pozzi conducts La Venexiana, with soprano Emanuela Galli as Poppea and mezzo-soprano Giuseppina Bridelli as Nerone. Opera on 3; 30 Sept, 6.30pm Handel Rinaldo A recording of Handel’s 1711 masterpiece, one of the first Italian language operas to be performed in London, with countertenor David Daniels in the lead role and esteemed support from baritone Gerald Finley (Argante) with mezzosopranos Cecilia Bartoli (Almirena) and Bernarda Fink (Goffredo). Christopher Hogwood conducts the Academy of Ancient Music. Afternoon on 3; 5 Oct, 2pm Verdi Nabucco A Royal Opera House production of Verdi’s biblical-based opera – which reflected the growing importance of the chorus when it premiered in Milan in 1842 – stars tenor Plácido Domingo as Nabucco and soprano Liudmyla Monastryka as the high priestess Zaccaria. Afternoon on 3; 19 Oct, 2pm Wagner Tannhäuser This recently acclaimed Royal Opera House production of Wagner’s three-act opera – about the struggles between sacred and profane love – features tenor Peter Seiffert, bass-baritone Christian Gerhaher and soprano Emma Bell. Hartmut Haenchen conducts. Opera on 3; 28 Oct, 6pm Strauss Salome Richard Strauss’s modernist classic was premiered in 1905 in Dresden. Angela Denoke plays the intoxicating and bloodthirsty lead in a Royal Opera House production with mezzo-soprano Irina Mishura as Herodias and tenor Gerhard Siegel as Herod. Afternoon on 3; 2 Nov, 2pm Shostakovich Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Shostakovich’s 1934 masterpiece was initially embraced by audiences before falling foul of the Soviet authorities. In this European Broadcasting Union recording, Mariss Jansons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic and the cast includes soprano Nina Stemme and tenor Maxim Paster. Opera on 3; 11 Nov, time tbc Mozart The Marriage of Figaro Mozart’s comic 1786 masterpiece was premiered in Vienna, a centre for the Enlightenment. Broadcast live from Met Opera with Harry Bicket conducting, the New York production features bass-baritone Adam Plachetka as Figaro and soprano Nadine Sierra as his fiancée Susanna. Opera on 3; 23 Dec, time tbc Other highlights on Radio 3: Composer of the Week: Puccini In a special edition of Composer of the Week, conductor Sir Antonio Pappano (above), the conductor and director of the Royal Opera House, joins Donald Macleod to discuss a different Puccini opera each day. Composer of the Week; from 9 Oct, 12 noon The Essay: Stories that Sing This week’s five-part series of The Essay sees a group of writers and an actor each tell the story of how they fell in love with opera for the first time. While author Julian Barnes examines how he came to opera via his experiences of bereavement, writer Patricia Duncker looks at the relationship between opera and the novel. Actor David Threlfall recalls how a Franco Zeffirelli production at the Met made a lasting impression. The Essay; from 16 Oct, 10.45pm Sunday Feature: John Tusa’s Opera Journey Sir John Tusa’s interest in opera began when he was stationed in post-war Germany on National Service. Returning to the three of the country’s opera houses – Kiel, Essen and Hannover – he discovers why these venues thrive so well. Sunday Feature; 8 Oct, 6:45pm Sunday Feature: A Flapper’s Guide to the opera Musicologist Dr Alexandra Wilson lifts the lid on the lively operatic scene of London in the 1920s. Listeners will be guided around the diverse locations where opera was performed, from Covent Garden to cafés and restaurants. Sunday Feature; 22 Oct, 6:45pm Online season highlights: #Operapassion Make sure you put 19 October in the diary. Opera companies across the UK are joining forces with BBC Digital Arts for #Operapassion, a day of interactive celebration of the world of opera. Live streams will allow audiences access to opera houses and tours across the country, with interviews and archive performances. #Operapassion; 19 Oct