Episodes

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01From Rodolfo To The Moor20071224Sean Rafferty introduces a series of programmes celebrating the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti, who died in September.

1/5. From Rodolfo to the Moor

~Pavarotti in his own words, discussing his career in an interview with Rodney Milnes recorded at the tenor's Modena home in 1991, 30 years after his debut. Including music by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Donizetti.

~Pavarotti in his own words, discussing his career in an interview with Rodney Milnes.

Sean Rafferty celebrates the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September

02The Voice Discovered20071225Sean Rafferty introduces a series of programmes celebrating the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September.

2/5. The Voice Discovered

~Pavarotti made his debut at Covent Garden in La boheme in September 1963. Sean Rafferty looks at the roles he sang in his early career, in conversation with conductors Richard Bonynge and Edward Downes, soprano Joan Sutherland and director John Copley.

Music includes:

Verdi: La donna e mobile (Rigoletto)

Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Edward Downes (conductor)

Donizetti: Deserto in terra (Don Sebastiano)

Vienna Opera Orchestra

Bellini: Beatrice di Tenda (excerpts)

Beatrice ...... Joan Sutherland (soprano)

Orombello ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

London Symphony Orchestra

Richard Bonynge (conductor)

Donizetti: La fille du regiment (excerpts)

Marie ...... Joan Sutherland (soprano)

Tonio ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Richard Bonynge (conductor).

Sean Rafferty looks at the roles Pavarotti sang in his early career.

Sean Rafferty celebrates the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September

03Opera's Golden Tenor20071226Sean Rafferty introduces a series of programmes celebrating the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September.

3/5. Opera's Golden Tenor

In the 1970s, Pavarotti achieved wider fame in America, particularly at the Metropolitan Opera, where he received no fewer than 17 curtain calls for one performance. From there he was crowned Opera's Golden Tenor on the cover of Time magazine. Sean Rafferty examines his breakthrough in America and his continued success in Europe in conversation with Richard Bonynge.

Including scenes from:

Puccini: La boheme

Mimi ...... Mirella Freni (soprano)

Rodolfo ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Berlin Philharmonic

Herbert von Karajan (conductor)

Puccini: Turandot

Princess Turandot ...... Joan Sutherland (soprano)

Calaf ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Zubin Mehta (conductor)

Puccini: Madama Butterfly

Cio-cio-san ...... Mirella Freni (soprano)

B F Pinkerton ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Vienna Philharmonic

Puccini: Tosca

Tosca ...... Mirella Freni (soprano)

Cavaradossi ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

National Philharmonic Orchestra

Nicola Rescigno (conductor).

Sean Rafferty, with Richard Bonynge, explores Pavarotti's breakthrough in America.

Sean Rafferty celebrates the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September

04Beyond The Stage20071227Sean Rafferty introduces a series of programmes celebrating the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti, who died in September.

4/5. Beyond the Stage

In 1981, Pavarotti launched his International Voice Competition, which has led to the rise of a number of younger singers, including Roberto Alagna, who talks to Sean Rafferty about his experience of working with Pavarotti. Plus a look at his only venture into film-making with Yes, Giorgio.

Music includes:

Williams: If I were in love

Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Orchestra

John Williams (conductor)

Mozart: Idomeneo (excerpt)

Idomeneo ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Vienna Philharmonic

John Pritchard (conductor)

Verdi: Il trovatore (excerpt)

Manrico ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Leonora ...... Antonella Banaudi (soprano)

Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Zubin Mehta (conductor)

Verdi: Aida (excerpt)

Radames ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

La Scala Orchestra, Milan

Lorin Maazel (conductor).

In 1981, Pavarotti launched his International Voice Competition.

Sean Rafferty celebrates the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September

05The Universal Tenor20071228Sean Rafferty introduces a series of programmes celebrating the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September.

5/5. The Universal Tenor

Sean examines the phenomenon of Pavarotti's stadium concerts, which began in 1990 with the first of the Three Tenors concerts in Rome, and went on to reach a global audience. At the same time, Pavarotti was recording his last big role, Otello, and making final stage appearances. Soprano Marilyn Horne talks about her experiences of singing with him.

Music includes:

Puccini: Nessun dorma (Turandot)

Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentina

Zubin Mehta (conductor)

Cilea E' la solita storia (L'arlesiana)

Leone Magiera (piano)

De Curtis Torna a Surriento

Philharmonia

Leone Magiera (conductor)

Verdi: Otello (excerpt)

Otello ...... Luciano Pavarotti (tenor)

Desdemona ...... Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano)

Jago ...... Leo Nucci (baritone)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Georg Solti (conductor).

Sean Rafferty examines the phenomenon of Pavarotti's stadium concerts.

Sean Rafferty celebrates the life and career of Luciano Pavarotti who died in September