Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Yiddish Operetta | 20211010 | Barrie Kosky is one of the most sought-after opera directors in the world and his productions have been hailed as both visionary and controversial. In this three-part series, Barrie Kosky and explores three areas of music for the stage which have a resonance for him and shares some of his own personal story. In this episode Barrie Kosky, the grandson of Jewish emigrants from Europe himself, explores the tragedy and tongue-in-cheek wit of a forgotten genre: Yiddish operetta. With songs of melancholy and despair, to infectious comedy, these were the soundtrack to multiple generations. Barrie explores these songs with themes of exile, loneliness and homesickness, but which are also about the joy of life - against all odds. Including a special recording of a concert he gave at the Komische Oper in Berlin. Ellstein - Maz'l Rumshinksky - A bis'l libe Secunda - Shver tzu zayn a yid Runshinksy - Du bist do likht fun Olshanetsky - Glik Ellstein _ Ikh sing, Oygn Ellstein - Farges mikh nit Ellstein - Tif vi di nakht Ellstein - Yid'l mit n fid'l Bock - To Life from Fiddler on the Roof Ellstein - Oy mame bin ikh Strock - Vi ahin zol ikh geh'n Goldfaden - Rozhinkes mit mandl'n Lebedeff - Romania, Romania Produced by Lindsay Pell Photo credit: Jan Windszus Visionary opera director Kosky explores the tragedy and wit of this forgotten genre Barrie Kosky explores music for the stage and shares some of his own personal story. |
| 02 | Theatrical Handel | 20211017 | Triumph, joy, madness, death, battle, jealousy, rage - what more do you want in a night at the opera?' Barrie Kosky explores not the staged operas but Handel's oratorios. The Bible stories of Handel's oratorios were not allowed to be staged in their day, but Kosky believes them to be intensely theatrical, not just because of their pageantry and brilliance but for the composer's ability to plumb the depths of characters in his music and finely describe the human condition. Barrie Kosky reminisces on his production of Saul with Christopher Purves, the gloriously visual word-painting depicting the plagues on Egypt as well as the pageantry of Solomon, the human drama of Jephtha and the spiritually uplifting sound-world of Messiah. Handel: Extracts from Solomon Arrival of the Queen of Sheba; Thrice bless'd be the king; From the East unto the West Handel: Extracts from Saul How excellent Thy Name, O Lord; Welcome welcome mighty king; David his ten thousand slew; With rage I shall burst; Dead March Handel: Extracts from Jephtha Scenes of horror, scenes of woe: How dark O Lord are Thy decrees; Waft her angels Handel: Extracts from Israel in Egypt He gave them hailstones; He sent a thick darkness over all the land: He smote all the first-born of Egypt: But the waters overwhelmed their enemies Handel: Extracts from Messiah How beautiful are thy feet; Hallelujah Chorus Produced by Lindsay Pell Photo credit: Jan Windszus Opera director Barrie Kosky explores the intensely theatrical world of Handel's oratorios. Barrie Kosky explores music for the stage and shares some of his own personal story. |
| 03 | Comedy In Opera | 20211024 | How do you make people laugh in opera? Barrie Kosky, one of opera's most sought-after directors, looks at works by Verdi, Offenbach, Mozart, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Bernstein, in search of comedy on the stage. Verdi: Act 3 Finale (Falstaff) Rossini: Largo al Factotum (Barber of Seville) Offenbach: Extracts from Orpheus in the Underworld Gilbert & Sullivan: Pirates of Penzance Mozart: Extracts from The Magic Flute Bernstein: Extracts from Candide Produced by Gavin McCollum and Lindsay Pell Photo credit: Jan Windszus Opera director extraordinaire Barrie Kosky explores what makes people laugh in opera. Barrie Kosky explores music for the stage and shares some of his own personal story. |