Afternoon on 3 - BBC National Orchestra of Wales - Musical Firsts - Episode 4

Penny Gore presents a week of programmes reflecting on musical firsts featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Today Penny introduces a brand new recording of Arthur Sullivan's 'Ivanhoe' - arguably the most important British opera from the nineteenth century. Based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott, dedicated to Queen Victoria - and written at her suggestion - Ivanhoe opened at the Royal English Opera House in January 1891 and ran for 155 consecutive performances. Since when its popularity has been somewhat less extravagant. When the performing materials were destroyed by fire in 1964, its fate seemed sealed. Thanks largely to the indefatigable effort and boundless energy of the late Richard Hickox, a new recording has now been made of this legendary opera, a co-production between BBC Radio 3 and Chandos Records. With a young and starry cast of British opera talent, this tale of knights in shining armour, forbidden love and medieval merrymaking can finally be heard once again. Arthur Sullivan: Ivanhoe [rev. 1895] Toby Spence - Wilfred, Knight of Ivanhoe; Son of Cedric the Saxon (tenor) Janice Watson - The Lady Rowena; Ward of Cedric (soprano) Geraldine McGreevy - Rebecca; Daughter of Isaac of York (soprano) Peter Rose - Cedric the Saxon; Thane of Rotherwood (bass) Neal Davies - Richard Coeur-de-Lion; King of England disguised as the Black Knight (baritone) Leigh Melrose - Isaac; the Jew of York (baritone) Other roles sung by Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Matthew Brook, Stephen Gadd, James Rutherford, Andrew Staples and Peter Wedd BBC National Orchestra of Wales Adrian Partington Singers David Lloyd-Jones (conductor).