Doris Lessing is one of Britain’s greatest contemporary novelists. Her career spans some fifty years and her many books explore a multiplicity of themes; feminism, communism, religion, madness, civilisation and the future of Western society. She has ranged through realistic fiction, science fantasy, factual writing and mythic parable. In this programme, Lessing talks about her writing and her highly original view of the world.
Aboriginal Art
When the first Europeans sailed into Sydney Cove they disturbed at least forty thousand years of unique aboriginal culture and, in the sometimes violent clashes that followed, much of that culture was eclipsed and even destroyed. This film considers the work of four contemporary Aborigines who demonstrate that the rich visual and oral traditions of their people still flourish against all odds: writer Archie Weller, artist Trevor Nickolls, painter and carver Banduk Marika, and poet Kath Walker.
Billy Budd
A cast of luminaries supported by the English National Opera gives a profound and masterful reading of Britten’s gripping opera of sadism and injustice aboard a British man-o’-war this month. Following the widely acclaimed Peter Grimes, released on Arthaus in May 2003, this production reunites Tim Albery’s direction with the phenomenal talent of Philip Langridge, often acclaimed as a natural successor to Peter Pears. The libretto, by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier, is based on the literary masterpiece by Herman Melville and tells the tale of a young seaman, Billy Budd, who is persecuted malevolently by his master-at-arms, Claggart. Accused of mutiny, the stammering Budd accidentally strikes Claggart dead and the tormented Captain Vere has no alternative but to hang him. The opera explores many universal themes – the individual at odds with society, the corruption of innocence, the continual conflict of good and evil – which no doubt lay close to the heart of Britten’s own pacifism and are themes common to much of his dramatic music.
This production has Britain’s leading operatic baritone, Thomas Allen, in one of his most distinguished roles, as Billy. He is noted not only for his superb abilities as a singer, but also for his acting skills, particularly necessary for the demanding role of the naive and virtuous character of Billy Budd. Philip Langridge as Captain Vere repeats his recently highly-praised portrayal.
L’africaine
Plácido Domingo, as Vasco da Gama, and Shirley Verrett, as the African queen whom he has enslaved, star in Meyerbeer’s spectacular grand opera, in a colourfully exotic production by Lotfi Mansouri, under the sensitive musical direction of Maurizio Arena. The visual splendour of Wolfram Skalicki’s designs matches the vocal distinction of the cast: “Domingo was the honeyed, ringing Gama of everyone’s expectations, Verrett as lustrous and inward a Sélika as ever, Ruth Ann Swenson a gem-like Inès” (Opera Magazine).
The Nature of Music
Every society throughout the world – and throughout history – has had a place for music. It has been used in sacred rituals and worship, for celebration and entertainment, for healing, and for protest. This three-part series considers how and why music has developed such an important role. Jeremy Marre filmed phenomena as diverse as the spirit cults of Madagascar, the trance rituals of Bali, the throat-songs of the Inuit Eskimos, flamenco in Cordoba, Wagner in Bayreuth, a therapy group in Ireland, duetting birds in Panama, samba in Brazil and an exorcism in old Cairo for this exploration of the nature of music.
Das Lied von der Erde
Recorded live from the Philharmonie in Munich, Sir Colin Davis conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra for this performance of Mahler’s great song symphony.
Sinfonia Concertante in E flat K364
From the Munich Philharmonie comes a live recording of Sir Colin Davis conducting the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E flat K364, featuring the internationally-acclaimed soloists Yuri Bashmet (viola) and Vladimir Spivakov (violin). An introduction to the concert performance is available, which shows Sir Colin Davis working with the soloists and the orchestra, documenting the painstaking preparation that goes into achieving the conductor’s musical vision.
La finta giardiniera
From the Drottningholm Court Theatre 1988: “The new production of La finta giardiniera at Drottningholm fully justified producer Goran Järvefelt’s and conductor Östman’s faith in the opera. It proved not only an evening of rare enchantment, but an instructive argument for period performance of Mozart” (The Independent). Britt-Marie Aruhn sings the role of the Countess, who disguises herself as a gardener in order to find and forgive her lover, who has fled, thinking he has killed her in a quarrel. (Sung in Italian)
Eric Clapton
In this television interview, the legendary rock and blues guitarist gives an honest and offen moving account of his life and career, from his early successes, to his years of drug addiction and on to his spectacular re-emergence in the mid-1980s. The programme includes footage looking back on Clapton’s career, a specially arranged private concert with his hero, blues player Buddy Guy, and a reunion with Jack Bruce from Cream.
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
The German-Italian composer Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948) is best remembered for the many light operas he based on the comedies of Goldoni. In this portrait, extracts from his work, including I quattro rusteghi, Il campiello and Il segreto di Susanna, are seen in rehearsal and performance. His music is interspersed with comments from directors, composers and conductors, who, together with his nephew, tell the story of his life.