Verdi

Synopsis: In the last episode of the radio series exploring the life and works of Giuseppe Verdi, presenter Donald Macleod explores the composer’s Shakespeare opera - Macbeth, and his final two operatic essays Otello and Falstaff. According to BBC Programme information,
the three chosen excerpts "show the protagonists losing control in one way or another: Lady Macbeth, in the famous sleepwalking scene, is unable to suppress her murderous guilt; Otello is unable to control his jealously and rage; and Falstaff, tricked into taking cover in a laundry basket, finds himself at the mercy of gravity, as he’s unceremoniously tossed out of a window into the River Thames".
The sleepwalking scene from Macbeth, Act 2("Gran scena del sonnambulismo: Vegliammo invan due notti") features Shirley Verrett as Lady Macbeth and is performed by the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, with Claudio Abbado as conducter. "La vedetta del porto" from the opening of Act 3 of Otello is performed with Placido Domingo in the title role with Myung-Whun Chung conducting the Orchestre de l’Opera Bastille.
Falstaff Act 2, Part 2 with Tito Gobbi in the lead is performed by Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
Series: Composer of the Week
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Radio
Transmission details: 23 Jul 2010 at 12:00 (Channel: BBC Radio 3)
Duration: 60 mins

Production type: Operas and Musicals
Plays: Macbeth; Merry Wives of Windsor, The; Othello
Subjects: Drama; Music
Keywords: opera; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)

History: Episode 5 of 5.
Reviews: Source: Radio Times, BBC Programme Information http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t374w (accessed 8/2010)