In 1906 Frederic d'Erlanger's opera of Tess of the D'Urbervilles had its first performance in Naples; that night, Mount Vesuvius chose to erupt.
Desmond Hawkins illustrates the history of an ill-fated opera about an ill-fated heroine with correspondence between Hardy and d'Erlanger, and Edwardian recordings of Angel Clare 's aria when he first meets Tess. Readers: HEDLEY GOODALL and PETER FIRTH. Producer PAMELA HOWE. BBC Bristol