Opera on 3

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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

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Music: Classical: Opera

Programme presenting rare and fascinating operatic performances

Programme presenting rare and fascinating performances and vividly communicating the immediacy of the live experience

Opera on 3: Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

BBC Radio 3 - Opera on 3, Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk from the Royal Opera House, starring soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek and tenor Brandon Jovanovich, conducted by Antonio Pappano.

Shostakovich's opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk is one of the twentieth century's masterpieces, acclaimed at its premiere in 1934 but then banned two years later by Stalin. It tells a tragic tale of adultery and murder as the bored and lonely heroine Katerina, sung by soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek, falls in love with one of her husband's workers, the manipulative Sergey, tenor Brandon Jovanovich. Their treachery leads to a gruesome series of murders - and ultimately to her own devastating end. 
Eva-Maria Westbroek leads a starry cast, joined by Brandon Jovanovich and Sir John Tomlinson who is celebrating 40 years of singing at Covent Garden.
Jim Naughtie presents and is joined by Russian cultural historian Rosamund Bartlett.



Katerina Ismailova ..... Eva-Maria Westbroek (Soprano)
Sergey ..... Brandon Jovanovich (Tenor)
Boris Ismailov ..... John Tomlinson (Bass)
Zinovy Ismailov ..... John Daszak (Tenor)
Sonyetka ..... Aigul Akhmetshina (Mezzo-Soprano)
Aksinya ..... Rosie Aldridge (Soprano)
Shabby Peasant ..... Peter Bronder (Baritone)
Priest ..... Wojtek Gierlach (Bass)
Police Inspector ..... Mikhail Svetlov (Bass)
Teacher ..... Thomas Atkins (Tenor)
Old Convict ..... Paata Burchuladze (Bass)
Female Convict ..... Miranda Keys (Soprano)
Steward/Sentry ..... Simon Shibambu (Bass)
Coachman/Second Workman ..... Hubert Francis (Tenor)
Porter ..... Jonathan Fisher (Bass)

Royal Opera House Chorus & Orchestra
Antonio Pappano (Conductor).

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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