Filling-in my diary notes. Top of the bill for me is the BBC 4, Gypsy: Live from the Savoy Theatre, i.e. the performance was 'live' when recorded! Jonathan Kent's award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and Julie Styne's musical based on the career of Gypsy Rose Lee; rave reviews for Imelda Staunton's performance as Gypsy's mother, Rose. It needs a star performer and I still recall the frisson on hearing an LP import of Ethel Merman's high voltage Broadway performance in 1959. We had to wait until 1973 when Angela Lansbury tackled Rose at the Piccadilly Theatre, succeeded by Dolores Gray; Sheila Hancock also 'hit the heights' as Rose at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1994 but declined a West End transfer which required two matinees a week. And my recorder will be set for BBC 4, 21,00-23.20hrs, Sunday, 27 Dec -phone off the hook!
An Alfred Hitchcock season, albeit off-peak, is also scheduled although I now have DVD copies on the shelves. However, I'll record Shadow of a Doubt, (1942) - my preference as his 'best' film - BBC 2, 00.30- 02.15hrs, Ist Jan '16 - hoping for a remastered print, as was Saboteur (1942) on BBC2 recently.
Vertigo (1956) is also scheduled for BBC 4, 22.00-00.05hrs, 30 Dec. Stll makes me shudder.
The New Year's Day Vienna concert, conducted by Mariss Jansons can be seen on BBC 2, 11.00hrs, repeated on BBC 4, 19.00hrs.
The Sinatra centenary will have a two-part tribute, All or Nothing at All, BBC 4; Pt 1, 21.00-22.55hrs, 31 Dec; Pt 2,
22.00-midnight, 1st Jan
A further two-part tribute, starting with, The Joy of Rachmaninov, will be presented by Tom Service, BBC 4, 21.00-22.00hrs,1st Jan, a celebration of the composer with contributions from Denis Matsuev, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Steven Isserlis, Stephen Hough, Vladimir Jurowski and James Rhodes.
The second programme, on BBC 2 (please note), - is a 90 mins documentary, Leningrad and the Orchestra that Defied Stalin, BBC2, 21,00hrs, 2 Jan. Tom Service with Amanda Vickery returns to Russia to recount how the siege of a city gave rise toDSCH's 7th symphony - a tale of the horror of war, appalling deprivation, and the redemptive power of human creativity. Vickery focuses on the historical scene-setting and the starvation in Leningrad, blockaded by the German army for 872 days. A sobering but compelling start for a New Year.
An Alfred Hitchcock season, albeit off-peak, is also scheduled although I now have DVD copies on the shelves. However, I'll record Shadow of a Doubt, (1942) - my preference as his 'best' film - BBC 2, 00.30- 02.15hrs, Ist Jan '16 - hoping for a remastered print, as was Saboteur (1942) on BBC2 recently.
Vertigo (1956) is also scheduled for BBC 4, 22.00-00.05hrs, 30 Dec. Stll makes me shudder.
The New Year's Day Vienna concert, conducted by Mariss Jansons can be seen on BBC 2, 11.00hrs, repeated on BBC 4, 19.00hrs.
The Sinatra centenary will have a two-part tribute, All or Nothing at All, BBC 4; Pt 1, 21.00-22.55hrs, 31 Dec; Pt 2,
22.00-midnight, 1st Jan
A further two-part tribute, starting with, The Joy of Rachmaninov, will be presented by Tom Service, BBC 4, 21.00-22.00hrs,1st Jan, a celebration of the composer with contributions from Denis Matsuev, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Steven Isserlis, Stephen Hough, Vladimir Jurowski and James Rhodes.
The second programme, on BBC 2 (please note), - is a 90 mins documentary, Leningrad and the Orchestra that Defied Stalin, BBC2, 21,00hrs, 2 Jan. Tom Service with Amanda Vickery returns to Russia to recount how the siege of a city gave rise toDSCH's 7th symphony - a tale of the horror of war, appalling deprivation, and the redemptive power of human creativity. Vickery focuses on the historical scene-setting and the starvation in Leningrad, blockaded by the German army for 872 days. A sobering but compelling start for a New Year.
"Angels and ministers of grace defend us!..."
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