In 1835 Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor made it's triumphant debut at the San Carlo in Naples. For it's Parisian appearance four years later as Lucie de Lammermoor, the composer went much further... more
Country boy Nemorino is determined to win the haughty Adina's heart, but she refuses to give him the time of day. Can Doctor Dulcamara's so-called 'elixir of love' work it's magic?
Conductor... more
Guided by his idol George Balanchine, Hans van Manen has striven all his life to create meaning in his choreography. Alongside conversations with colleagues and collaborators, in the documentary... more
The Life and Works of Richard Wagner, directed by Carl Fröhlich, was originally released on 20th November 1913. It was the first ever 'bio-pic', and as such was about who else but Wagner? What is... more
Late in 1945, Basil Wright and the Crown Film Unit commissioned from Benjamin Britten the soundtrack for a film they were planning to be called 'Instruments of the Orchestra', which was to be part of... more
In January 1956 Britten, on a visit to Tokyo, saw a Nō-drama for the first time. In fact, he saw two different performances of the same play - Sumidagawa. The effect on the 42 year-old composer was... more
In 1986 the Japanese pianist Mitsuko Uchida burst upon the international scene with an astonishing series of concerts comprising all 27 Mozart Piano Concertos. Conducting the English Chamber... more
