In collaboration with the Royal Opera's Verdi Festival, the Proms present an outstanding cast in one of Verdi's greatest operas in its revised five-act version, sung in Italian, from the Royal Albert Hall , London.
Musically both bold and tender, it vividly explores the battle between freedom and oppression on the political stage and in the personal lives of its players.
Royal Opera Chorus. Orchestra of the Royal Opera House/Bernard Haitink Acts 1 and 2 7.35 Why Do We All Hate Philip So? Was King Philip II of Spain too conscientious to appeal to the likes of Schiller and Verdi? Novelist Adrian
Mourby explores why some monarchs are loved by history and others loathed. The words of the real and operatic Philip are read by Peter Jeffrey and the testimony of those who knew the king by Cyril Shaps and Alice Arnold.
7.55 Act 3
8.40 Conducting Verdi
"Ah, these conductors are a veritable scourge!" (Verdi, 1871)
Verdi had strong ideas about everything - including how his works should be conducted. Daniel Snowman talks to
Edward Downes. Mark Elder and Bernard Haitink about how they approach Verdi's operatic scores.
9.00 Acts 4 and 5 ♦ See Music: page 58