8:00 pm - At the Opera

9:00 pm - At the Opera

10:00 pm - At the Opera

11:00 pm - At the Opera

AT THE OPERA
Imperial Rome
Prepared and presented by Peter Poole

Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea.    Opera in Sinfonia, prologue and two acts. Libretto by Giovanni Busenello. First performed Venice, 1642.
[00:20]

Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea, Sinfonia and Prologue    
[10:11]

Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea, Act I    
[01:22:49]

Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea, Act II    
[58:31]

Cast: POPPEA: Janet Baker, mezz; NERO: Robert Ferguson, ten; OTTAVIA: Katherine Pring, mezz; SENECA: Clifford Grant, bass; OTTONE: Tom McDonnell, bar; DRUSILLA: Barbara Walker, sop // Sadlers Wells Opera Ch & O/Raymond Leppard.
Chandos CHAN 3172(2) [00:20]

Rome, AD64. Poppea, mistress of the Emperor Nero, elicits a promise that he will repudiate his wife Ottavia to make Poppea the Empress. Seneca, upholder of the ancient virtues, urges Ottavia to show restraint and dignity. He is warned by the Goddess of Wisdom that he will die if he interferes in the matter. When Nero reveals his plan to depose Ottavia in favour of Poppea, Seneca’s calm remonstrations incite him to hysterical anger. Poppea insinuates the idea into Nero’s mind that Seneca must die. The Emperor orders Seneca’s death.
Ottavia, unable to bear the indignity of the situation, orders Ottone to kill Poppea. He, having found new love with Drusilla, involves her in the plot. Amor, God of Love, stays Ottone’s hand as he is about to kill Poppea. Ottone escapes but Drusilla is arrested. Both are exiled and Nero announces the banishment of Ottavia. The coronation of Poppea follows with the Tribunes and Consuls of Rome paying homage. The opera ends with Poppea and Nero singing of their love.

Monteverdi, C. Ecco pur ch'a voi ritorno, ballo, from L'Orfeo (1607).    Patrizia Kwella, sop; Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, ten; Lawrence Dale, ten; Alan Woodrow, ten // Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner.
Erato 2292-45984-2 [05:31]

Monteverdi, C. Illustratevi, o cieli, from The return of Ulysses (1641).    Bernarda Fink, mezz; Concerto Vocale/René Jacobs.
Harmonia Mundi HMX 2908150.52 [03:55]

Cavalli, F. Ardo, sospiro e piango, from La Calisto (1652).    Janet Baker, mezz; London PO/Raymond Leppard.
Decca 476 7091 [04:32]





Followed by MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
Prepared and presented by James Nightingale

El Khoury, B. Poème nocturne, op 80 (2009).    Vincent Prats, fl; Paris O/Eivind Gullberg Jensen.
Naxos 8.573617 [18:34]

Helps, R. Nocturne (1973).    Alan Feinberg, pf.
Argo 430 330-2 [08:52]

Grandage, I. Black dogs (2008).    Dale Bartrop, vn; Francesca Hiew, vn; Stephen King, va; Sharon Grigoryan, vc; Slava Grigoryan, gui.
ABC 481 5428 [16:09]

Mellnäs, A. L’Infinito (1982).    Swedish Radio Choir/Eric Ericson.
Phono Suecia PS 22 [10:31]

AT THE OPERA Imperial Rome Prepared and presented by Peter Poole
Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea.    Opera in Sinfonia, prologue and two acts. Libretto by Giovanni Busenello. First performed Venice, 1642. [00:20] Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea, Sinfonia and Prologue     [10:11] Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea, Act I     [01:22:49] Monteverdi, C. The Coronation of Poppea, Act II     [58:31] Cast: POPPEA: Janet Baker, mezz; NERO: Robert Ferguson, ten; OTTAVIA: Katherine Pring, mezz; SENECA: Clifford Grant, bass; OTTONE: Tom McDonnell, bar; DRUSILLA: Barbara Walker, sop // Sadlers Wells Opera Ch &amp; O/Raymond Leppard. Chandos CHAN 3172(2) [00:20] Rome, AD64. Poppea, mistress of the Emperor Nero, elicits a promise that he will repudiate his wife Ottavia to make Poppea the Empress. Seneca, upholder of the ancient virtues, urges Ottavia to show restraint and dignity. He is warned by the Goddess of Wisdom that he will die if he interferes in the matter. When Nero reveals his plan to depose Ottavia in favour of Poppea, Seneca’s calm remonstrations incite him to hysterical anger. Poppea insinuates the idea into Nero’s mind that Seneca must die. The Emperor orders Seneca’s death. Ottavia, unable to bear the indignity of the situation, orders Ottone to kill Poppea. He, having found new love with Drusilla, involves her in the plot. Amor, God of Love, stays Ottone’s hand as he is about to kill Poppea. Ottone escapes but Drusilla is arrested. Both are exiled and Nero announces the banishment of Ottavia. The coronation of Poppea follows with the Tribunes and Consuls of Rome paying homage. The opera ends with Poppea and Nero singing of their love. Monteverdi, C. Ecco pur ch'a voi ritorno, ballo, from L'Orfeo (1607).    Patrizia Kwella, sop; Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, ten; Lawrence Dale, ten; Alan Woodrow, ten // Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner. Erato 2292-45984-2 [05:31] Monteverdi, C. Illustratevi, o cieli, from The return of Ulysses (1641).    Bernarda Fink, mezz; Concerto Vocale/René Jacobs. Harmonia Mundi HMX 2908150.52 [03:55] Cavalli, F. Ardo, sospiro e piango, from La Calisto (1652).    Janet Baker, mezz; London PO/Raymond Leppard. Decca 476 7091 [04:32] 
 
Followed by MUSIC OF THE NIGHT Prepared and presented by James Nightingale
El Khoury, B. Poème nocturne, op 80 (2009).    Vincent Prats, fl; Paris O/Eivind Gullberg Jensen. Naxos 8.573617 [18:34] Helps, R. Nocturne (1973).    Alan Feinberg, pf. Argo 430 330-2 [08:52] Grandage, I. Black dogs (2008).    Dale Bartrop, vn; Francesca Hiew, vn; Stephen King, va; Sharon Grigoryan, vc; Slava Grigoryan, gui. ABC 481 5428 [16:09] Mellnäs, A. L’Infinito (1982).    Swedish Radio Choir/Eric Ericson. Phono Suecia PS 22 [10:31]

A tradition of 40 years and more, At the Opera brings you favourite and lesser-known operas, in full.

A tradition of 40 years and more, At the Opera brings you favourite and lesser-known operas, in full.