direct from the Logan
Hall. Bloomsbury, London The first of six
Programmes marking the bicentenary of the death of Johann Christian Bach is the first performance since 1765 of his sixth opera. The boy Mozart, who was in London then. was befriended by Bach and almost certainly saw the opera. Mozart later wrote embellishments to one of the arias and-these will be sung this evening.
The opera is set in Antioch in AD 117, after Trajan had annexed Parthia and after
Hadrian had succeeded him as Emperor.
Cast in order of singing:
Italian coach GWYN MORRIS DAVID SHAW
(harpsichord continuo) BBC Concert Orchestra leader. JOHN BRADBURY conducted by Sir Charles Mackerra * (Presented by the Camdcn Festival in association with Radio 3)