AT THE OPERA
Anniversaries, Part 12
Prepared and presented by Camille Mercep

Tchaikovsky, P. Iolanthe. Opera in one act. Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky. First performed St Petersburg, 18 December1892.   

Tchaikovsky, P. Iolanthe, Part 1   
[41:10]

Tchaikovsky, P. Iolanthe, Part 2   
[46:23]

   KING RENÉ: Yevgeny Nestorenko, bass
IOLANTHE: Tamara Sorokina, sop
ROBERT: Yuri Mazurok, bar
EARL VODEMONT: Vladimir Atlantov, ten
Bolshoi Theatre Ch & O/Mark Ermler.Total Time: 1:27:33
LP Melodiya C10-08343-6

   King René’s daughter, Iolanthe, is unaware that she is blind as all around her are sworn to secrecy and no stranger is allowed into the castle. She normally lives a happy life but recently has been disturbed by a vague inexplicable desire, is sad and cries often. A famous doctor is called who says that he can cure her but Iolanthe needs to be told of her blindness and to have the desire to have sight but the king forbids it.
Two knights, Robert and Vodemont, enter the castle garden, having lost thteir way. Robert was betrothed to Iolanthe when they were children but he is seeking the king to have the bethrothal dissolved as he loves another. Vodemont comes upon the sleeping Iolanthe and is infatuated with her beauty. She wakes and his excitement evokes a response in her. As Vodemont is saying goodbye to her, he asks her to pick a red rose for him but when she offers him a white rose, he realises that she is blind. He tells her how beautiful the light is and Iolanthe listens in ecstasy. They fall in love.
The king becomes angry that the secret has been revealed but the doctor says it is now possible to cure Iolanthe. She regains her sight and everyone glorifies the light as the source of life and knowledge.

Tchaikovsky, P. Waltz of the flowers, from The nutcracker, op 71 (1892).    Royal PO/Vladimir Ashkenazy.
RPO RPO 8021 [07:37]

Rachmaninov, S. Vocalise, op 34 no 14 (1912).    Olga Peretyatko, sop; Ural PO/Dmitry Liss..
Sony 88985352232 [06:09]

Stokowski, L. Traditional Slavic Christmas music (1933).    Bournemouth SO/José Serebrier.
Naxos 8.557645 [03:18]

22:00 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
Prepared and presented by James Nightingale

Stravinsky, I. Ballet: Le baiser de la fée (1928/50).    Cleveland O/Oliver Knussen.
DG 479 4650 [43:37]

Prokofiev, S. Sonata in C, op 119 (1949).    Zoe Knighton, vc; Amir Farid, pf.
Move MD 3390 [27:40]

Gubaidulina, S. Duo sonata (1977).    Claude Delangle, sax; Damien Royannais, sax.
BIS CD-765 [11:13]

Norgård, P. Symphony no 6, At the end of the day (1999).    Oslo PO/John Storgards.
Dacapo 6.220645 [31:15]