Radio 3 opera

[Tantris]

Can anyone explain why the radio 3 Thursday afternoon operas have disappeared. Who would know?

[alywin]

No idea, any more than why the Choral Evensong or whatever it is on Wednesdays has moved. Seems to be another programming shake-up?

[AuntDaisy]

Alwyn could well be right about the shake-up, Ein Heldenleben speculated about EBU concerts on the "Latest RAJARs/Younger listeners flock to R3" thread.

Idle speculation but I think both the Opera Matinée and the Afternoon concert have suffered from a lack of supply of free EBU concerts to fill the schedule with because of Covid. There’s been a similar problem with In Concert.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Alwyn could well be right about the shake-up, Ein Heldenleben speculated about EBU concerts on the "Latest RAJARs/Younger listeners flock to R3" thread.

Thinking about it a lot of Afternoon Operas used to be from European festivals - a lot of those didn’t happen this summer or last . There was a similar thing this year with the Saturday evening Opera - there were quite a few Met repeats .

[AuntDaisy]

Thinking about it a lot of Afternoon Operas used to be from European festivals - a lot of those didn’t happen this summer or last . There was a similar thing this year with the Saturday evening Opera - there were quite a few Met repeats .

It's a shame Auntie & EBU etc. can't dig further in to their Archives. R3 could have a competition / vote for the most popular archive repeats - wishful thinking...

[Serial_Apologist]

It's a shame Auntie & EBU etc. can't dig further in to their Archives. R3 could have a competition / vote for the most popular archive repeats - wishful thinking...

I wonder how much archive opera remains in the vaults. While no great opera appreciator myself, one opera I would dearly love to hear again is "The Plumber's Gift", by David Blake - a British composer whose music was of the highest order, in my view, but who seems to have entirely disappeared from Radio 3.

[french frank]

David Blake - a British composer whose music was of the highest order, in my view, but who seems to have entirely disappeared from Radio 3.

He seems to have disappeared from everywhere except the academic scene: no recordings, or performances on Youtube?

[Bryn]

He seems to have disappeared from everywhere except the academic scene: no recordings, or performances on Youtube?

https://app.idagio.com/profiles/david-blake/recordings

I have this one, somewhere:



Purchased 18 Feb 2009. At least 2 copies of the CD are available via amazon.co.uk

[Serial_Apologist]

https://app.idagio.com/profiles/david-blake/recordings

I have this one, somewhere:



Purchased 18 Feb 2009. At least 2 copies of the CD are available via amazon.co.uk

I have that one.

[Bryn]

Blake's Variations for Piano is also available to stream via amazon.co.uk:

https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B08YX5KYN6?trackAsin=B08YX33VS9&do=play

plus https://www.warnerclassics.com/relea...sh-piano-music

[LHC]

I have that one.

I have it too, although on LP and with a very different cover.

When I was at University in the early 80s, I was in a production of the Threepenny Opera which was conducted by David Blake and directed by John Birtwhistle. I think this was the first time they had worked together, and it was after their collaboration on this production that they then went on to work together on The Plumber’s Gift.

I must admit I preferred Blake’s earlier opera Toussaint, which I saw a few times when it was revived by ENO in 1983. I’d really like to hear that again.

[Serial_Apologist]

I have it too, although on LP and with a very different cover.

When I was at University in the early 80s, I was in a production of the Threepenny Opera which was conducted by David Blake and directed by John Birtwhistle. I think this was the first time they had worked together, and it was after their collaboration on this production that they then went on to work together on The Plumber’s Gift.

I must admit I preferred Blake’s earlier opera Toussaint, which I saw a few times when it was revived by ENO in 1983. I’d really like to hear that again.

That's interesting. Thanks. I didn't realise Blake worked with Birtwistle on The Plumber's Gift - the style of the music is so un-Birtwistle-ish! I need to find out more about Toussaint.

[french frank]

I have this one, somewhere:

With the legendary Iona Brown violin …

[LHC]

That's interesting. Thanks. I didn't realise Blake worked with Birtwistle on The Plumber's Gift - the style of the music is so un-Birtwistle-ish! I need to find out more about Toussaint.

John Birtwhistle, the poet, directed our production and wrote the libretto for the Plumber’s Gift. Not Harrison Birtwistle. Sorry for any confusion caused.

[Serial_Apologist]

John Birtwhistle, the poet, directed our production and wrote the libretto for the Plumber’s Gift. Not Harrison Birtwistle. Sorry for any confusion caused.

My apologies!