BBC TV broadcasts opera shock!

[Flosshilde]

BBC2 is broadcasting the Birmingham OPera Company's production of Verdi's 'Othello' on Saturday at 4.25 (in the afternoon, not the morning ).

Let's hope that this is the start of a return to what BBC2 used to be.

It's unfortunate, though, that the timing means that it ends 15 minutes after the Met relay starts on Radio 3.

Just spotted that it's preceded (at 3.25) by a film of the rehearsals.

[Bert Coules]

There's a splendid review of the production here. It sounds every bit as good as the same team's Fidelio of a year or so back.

[french frank]

Let's hope that this is the start of a return to what BBC2 used to be.

I'm not sure that it will go quite that far, but the BBC's strategy does visualise a stronger arts and music output for BBC Two in the future.

[ostuni]

There's a splendid review of the production here. It sounds every bit as good as the same team's Fidelio of a year or so back.

Well, I didn't see the Fidelio, but I can report that Othello was a marvellous experience live: surrounded by chorus, principals, in this extraordinary performance space. And with lots of small, hand-held cameras, the TV broadcast looks as if it will do a pretty decent job of recreating the experience.

[Flosshilde]

I'm not sure that it will go quite that far, but the BBC's strategy does visualise a stronger arts and music output for BBC Two in the future.

Goodness - I might even be tempted to get a television!

[Chris Newman]

Goodness - I might even be tempted to get a television!

Ditto!!! Though the only things I cannot see by downloading on my computer are feature films (though for some reason they allow "The Heroes of Tellemark")

[BBMmk2]

Is the The Brave New World?

[Chris Newman]

Is the The Brave New World?

I've just watched the Othello on iPlayer and it is every bit as good as Bert hinted at. If this is The Brave New World bring it on I say.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I made the mistake of just listening to it while I concentrated on reorganising my LP collection. When I eventually sat down and watched the conclusion I really wished I'd done so much earlier

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It does seem a little strange that BBC2 should broadcast this so that it clashes with the live broadcast from the Met.

[Bryn]

You don't expect the right hand of the Beeb to know what the left hand is up to, surely?

[ostuni]

I've just watched the Othello on iPlayer and it is every bit as good as Bert hinted at.

Mrs ostuni was in the orchestra for the production, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We didn't see the broadcast on Sat (it clashed with our Parsifal visit), but have it on the HDD: looking forward to seeing what the cameras made of it.