A while ago, you will recall, I wrote to the Beeb asking for a programme to be repeated because I only caught the second half of it. I suggested that they repeat during the planned Opera Month, and, guess what, it's going to be on BBC2 on 12 June.
Other programmes on BBC2 include an 'Arena' profile of Pavarotti (Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz); Mozart's Don Giovanni (the 'D' of the essential ABCD of Opera, the others being Aida, La Boheme and Carmen - although my fave Mozart opera is Marriage of Figaro); Britten�s' Turn of the Screw, and a feature on Britten's paedophilia (how tabloid...); and a live broadcast from Covent Garden of Faust , starring Simon Keenlyside, thought by many to be absolute delicious, Bryn Terfel National Treasure, and the Lasagnes, who are, well, the Lasagnes...
And, of course, Act 3 of Valkyrie from Glastonbury. BBC4 - available by cable satellite or freeview - has further offerings.
I also moaned about the Colisseum's ban on taking drinks outside. This did not present a problem on Tuesday.
I also promised a while ago to recommend a damn fine production on the Performance channel - Sky 202 - Angela Gheorghiu in La Traviata. It's on on Monday at 10.10; 15.10 and 20.15. I would highly recommend it. If you want some pre-viewing reading, I would suggest this, but it's just fine to kick off your shoes, sit back, and enjoy, arguably, Verdi's most *accessible* opera.
I have one gripe with this. At the beginning of Act 2 Scene 2 (or Act 3 if you opt for the 4-Act version) is a party with Toreadors and Flamenco dancers, supposedly from Madrid. I actually think that this scene is so naff in this production it almost jeopardises the otherwise gorgeousness. Especially in comparison to a wonderful Zefferelli production that Artsworld broadcast that had a genuine Spanish Gypsy Flamenco group that were just ace...(and a genuine Spanish conductor who did try to be a bullfighter once upon a time...)
But this would be worth watching for Diva Gheorghiu's dresses alone...
