Shakespeare Season

[french frank]

Friday 22 April will usher in a week's worth of programming to celebrate Shakespeare's quatercentenary. Pretty much solidly Shakespeare for the week, but since he's not a composer it appears to be easier to maintain quite a degree of musical variety. Not all to my taste, and being more of a drama buff, I'd have preferred one of The Man's plays on Drama on 3, rather than a new play about Shakespeare (even one featuring Robert Lindsay). Do3 is followed by some new writing/music commissions which is at least imaginative:

Sonnets In The City 23:30-23:45

Radio 3 has commissioned five writers to re-version five of Shakespeare’s most powerful sonnets as a series of edgy, contemporary dramas set across a single night in a city – and commissioned five composers to create the music for those sonnets, performed by the BBC Philharmonic. In each play the original sonnet itself is read by Maxine Peake. The sonnets are 29, 61, 73, 140, 154 and they will be broadcast across the Sounds Of Shakespeare weekend. Writers: Tom Wells, Francesca Martinez, Lee Mattinson, Esther Wilson, Zodwa Nyoni. The composers: Tom Coult, Nina Whiteman, Aaron Parker, Chiu-Yu Chou, Daniel Kidane.

This is the press release: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/lat...of-shakespeare

This the full details of the week's highlights.

[aeolium]

Actually in the list of programmes from the press release here it does contain details of two Shakespeare plays for Do3 in May, The Winter's Tale on May 1 and King Lear on May 15th. These are all part of the R3 "Sounds of Shakespeare" season which runs during late April and May.

[french frank]

Actually in the list of programmes from the press release here it does contain details of two Shakespeare plays for Do3 in May, The Winter's Tale on May 1 and King Lear on May 15th. These are all part of the R3 "Sounds of Shakespeare" season which runs during late April and May.

I missed that - thanks for pointing it out, aeolium.

[doversoul1]

This looks interesting:
Sunday Morning
09:00-11:00
[…] James is also joined by scholar Kate Kennedy to guide us through hidden gems from the RSC’s music archive.

…and this
Early Music Show
Saturday 14:15-15:00
Lucie Skeaping introduces soprano Ruby Hughes and lute player Jon Nordberg in a 16th century recital specially created for today, Lute songs and Pavans in Shakespeare’s England. Live on stage at the Other Place Theatre including works by John Dowland and Robert Johnson.

Early Music Show
Sunday 14:00-15:00
Ex Cathedra perform a special concert of English and Italian madrigals celebrating the explosion of interest in singing in England during the most creative part of Shakespeare’s lifetime. Recorded on the anniversary day in front of an audience at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Guild Chapel, as part of Radio 3’s Sounds Of Shakespeare weekend and presented by Lucie Skeaping.

Is this to compensate the omission of Early Music Late on Sunday or have we got the Early Music Show back on Saturday? Or have I got it wrong somewhere?

[french frank]

This looks interesting:
Sunday Morning
09:00-11:00
[…] James is also joined by scholar Kate Kennedy to guide us through hidden gems from the RSC’s music archive.

Noting the fearless use of 'scholar' here. Caution to the winds!

…and this
Early Music Show
Saturday 14:15-15:00
Lucie Skeaping introduces soprano Ruby Hughes and lute player Jon Nordberg in a 16th century recital specially created for today, Lute songs and Pavans in Shakespeare’s England. Live on stage at the Other Place Theatre including works by John Dowland and Robert Johnson.

Early Music Show
Sunday 14:00-15:00
Ex Cathedra perform a special concert of English and Italian madrigals celebrating the explosion of interest in singing in England during the most creative part of Shakespeare’s lifetime. Recorded on the anniversary day in front of an audience at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Guild Chapel, as part of Radio 3’s Sounds Of Shakespeare weekend and presented by Lucie Skeaping.

Is this to compensate the omission of Early Music Late on Sunday or have we got the Early Music Show back on Saturday? Or have I got it wrong somewhere?

We'll have to wait and see. The whole of Saturday has been rejigged so it may be just a one-off.

[Stanley Stewart]

Glad to see that BBC2 has made a start with television coverage of Kenneth Branagh's baptism of fire as director and actor in a film version of Henry V, 1989. I write in haste as it will be screened at 13.00-15.15 hrs, today, (Sat 9 April). A sharp and effective contrast to Olivier's patriotic 1944 version which captured the D-Day euphoria so well! Recorder at the ready.

[french frank]

I'm reminded that Guy Woolfenden, who died a couple of weeks ago, composed a huge number of scores for the RSC. Was any reference made to him in any of the programmes?

[mercia]

I'm reminded that Guy Woolfenden, who died a couple of weeks ago, composed a huge number of scores for the RSC. Was any reference made to him in any of the programmes?

short answer - yes, but offhand I can't remember when. We heard some of his music and also a recording of the man himself at some point.

[french frank]

short answer - yes, but offhand I can't remember when. We heard some of his music and also a recording of the man himself at some point.

Thanks, I was asked the question but had no answer

[doversoul1]

Sunday Morning: 24th
... James is also joined by scholar Kate Kennedy to guide us through hidden gems from the RSC's music archive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07864ff

Only one work but the guest’s talk was very interesting.

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm reminded that Guy Woolfenden, who died a couple of weeks ago, composed a huge number of scores for the RSC. Was any reference made to him in any of the programmes?

I missed his death - - I attended a talk he gave in the mid 70s, talking about how he went about producing scores for the RSC - I remember he described doing the music for, it may have been the Scottish play, only using instruments made of wood - that sort of thing, an innovative and imaginitive approach. Not that I heard any of it in an actual production

[aeolium]

Just a heads up for the Do3 tonight as part of this mini-season, A Winter's Tale:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b078wtnn

And the Russian film adaptation of Hamlet by Kozintsev at 10.45 pm on BBC4 tonight:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03b7x2r