Internationally acclaimed, the leading lyrical baritone is noted for his skill not only as a singer, but also for his acting. In this programme, Allen takes a masterclass with trainees from the National Opera Studio, looking at scenes from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Britten’s Billy Budd. He also talks in interview about his career and his approach to opera.
Hal Prince
Hal Prince has been intimately involved with the history of the American musical since the 1950s, responsible for producing the original stagings of hit shows such as West Side Story, and directing successes including Cabaret, Evita and Sweeney Todd. In this television lecture, he gives a fascinating insight into the past, present and future of this form of entertainment.
John Houseman
Filmed at home in Malibu shortly before his death in 1988, Houseman talks about his life, from being a stateless Rumanian to enjoying a sixty-year career as a leading light in film, theatre and television. His achievements included seminal theatre projects with Orson Welles, with whom he also worked on Citizen Kane, a dozen memorable films of his own, founding the drama department at New York’s famous Juilliard School, and unexpectedly becoming a star actor in his seventies.
David Puttnam
This exclusive interview with producer David Puttnam was recorded just after he shocked the film industry by resigning as head of Columbia Film Studios, eighteen months after becoming only the second non-American to hold this Position since World War II. He talks candidly about his time in Hollywood and the furore caused by his conviction that Columbia could produce films that were both profitable and meaningful.