Words and music by Judith Weir

This new opera is based on one of the most famous plays in Chinese literature,
The Chao Family Orphan, written during the late 13th century when China was ruled by Khubilai Khan. Judith Weir's operatic adaptation mixes stylised drama and slapstick humour to produce a highly original opera which has been drawing enthusiastic audiences. The composer herself introduces this production by Kent Opera from the Theatre Royal, Bath.

Orchestra of Kent Opera conducted by Andrew Parrott.

"Judith Weir's new opera is simply brilliant, brilliantly simple, fresh, colourful, enchanting and quite the wittiest thing to be done in the musical theatre for years." THE TIMES

Designer RICHARD HUDSON, Lighting NICK CHELTON, Producer RICHARD JONES, Radio 3 producer MARTIN COTTON, Videotape editor PHIL SOUTHBY, TV sound GRAHAM HAINES, TV lighting ALAN WOOLFORD
Executive producer DENNIS MARKS, Directed by BARRIE GAVIN.

A simultaneous broadcast with Radio 3. Viewers with stereo Radio 3 may wish to turn off TV sound and position their speakers on either side of the screen, but a few feet away. Stereo headphones provide a suitable alternative.
('Sound on Film' tomorrow at 9.45pm)
FEATURE: page 22