Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

Today he talks about his personal love affair with opera and wonders how listening to opera can actually save your life. Featuring empowering classics from Mozart, Purcell, Bizet and Jimmy Somerville, tracks that had the power to inspire and save the younger Richard when he was a bullied London teenager.

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Originally broadcast on 18th April 2013.

TheOperaHourS02Ep2420130418.mp3 [ 59:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

Today he examines opera’s portrayal of the night sky. We’ll hear Handel’s solar eclipse, how John Cage tried to musically trace the universe, prominent British astronomer William Herschel’s oboe concerto, Herschel discovered Uranus and her moons, and from Philip Glass’s opera, Kepler, who witnessed the great comet of 1577.
Originally broadcast on 11th April 2013.

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The_Opera_Hour_series2-episode23-20130411.mp3 [ 58:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

Today: Poulenc‘s cheeky, jazzy and sublimely beautiful art songs and ballet music. Called a half-monk, half-delinquent by critics, Poulenc was as religious as he was a party animal; and he was the first openly gay opera composer. Special guest: Matthew Swann, Chief Executive of The City of London Sinfonia.

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The_Opera_Hour_series2-episode22-20130328.mp3 [ 1:00:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

Today he talks to world-renowned Handel conductor Laurence Cummings about harpsichords, recits and all things Handel; and his love for the music of Peter Gabriel!

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Originally broadcast on 21st March 2013.

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Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.
Today he is joined by the artist Edwin Burdis who talks to us about his surreal and witty homemade operas “Fruit Machine” and “Megadairypigfarm,” that support his paintings, drawings and sculptures.

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Originally broadcast on 14th March 2013

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Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

Today’s guests are Morgan Pearse and Louise Alder, stars of Handel’s “Imeneo.”

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Originally broadcast on 7th March 2013

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Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

Today: Jamie McDermott, lead singer of The Irrepressibles, who talks about modern day counter tenors and his upcoming performance of Britten’s “Cabaret Songs” at Aldeburgh. He’ll also be singing live!

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Originally broadcast on February 21st 2013

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Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

Today, since it’s Valentine’s Day, Richard plays some of the most romantic and heartfelt music ever written for the operatic stage. We’ll hear from Puccini and Verdi’s scandalous courtesans, Schoenberg’s desperate Woman as she searches for the body of her lover in a dark forest, Milhaud’s tragic Orpheus, Tchaikovsky’s over-zealous letter-writing teenager and some sublime duets from the Handel’s and Monteverdi’s war-weary heroes and heroines.

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Originally Broadcast on 14th February 2013

The Opera Hour_series 2-episode17-20130214 [ 58:16 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.
Today opera singers Jean Rigby and Joanna Songi discuss their roles in Glyndebourne’s latest community opera, Imago by Orlando Gough, an opera set in the world of online gaming, where Joanna plays Jean’s younger avatar, in an attempt to bring comfort, friendship and love into the lives of the residents of a care home for the elderly.
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Originally broadcast on 7th February 2013

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Opera singer Richard Scott explores opera through the prism of various themes – politics, power, greed, the abominable, magic, lust, comedy.

On today’s show he opens the operatic Menagerie to hear how composers have been influenced by bird song and animal calls throughout the centuries. We’ll hear Messiaen and Handel’s take on the nightingale, Birtwistle and Bizet’s take on the bull, Dove and Schubert’s take on the fish and Poulenc – well, he portrays any animal he turns his pen to…

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Originally broadcast on 31st January 2013 (Resonance FM, London).

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