Afternoon on 3 - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - Episode 4

Last December the Monnaie Theatre in Brussels staged both of Gluck's operas telling the tragic story of the ancient Greek princess Iphigenia. Afternoon on 3 is broadcasting both operas over two Thursdays, and today it's the turn of the second. Nadja Michael sings the title role of Iphigenia, exiled life far from home in Tauris - part of the Crimea, north of the Black Sea - where as High Priestess of Diana it is her duty to sacrifice strangers. When two young Greek men are shipwrecked in Tauris, she feels strangely drawn to one of them - but is commanded to kill them both... Gluck: Iphigenie en Tauride - opera in 4 acts Iphigenie...... Nadja Michael (soprano) Orestes, King of Argos and Mycenae ...... Stephane Degout (baritone) Pylades, King of Phocis ...... Topi Lehtipuu (tenor) Thoas, King of Tauris ...... Werner Van Mechelen (bass) Diana, goddess of hunting ...... Violet Serena Noorduyn (soprano) Other roles sung by Gerard Lavalle, Bernard Giovani, Helen Kearns, Tomoko Taguchi, Anne-Fleur Inizan and Camille Merckx La Monnaie Chorus and Orchestra Christophe Rousset (conductor) 3.50pm Continuing this week's focus on the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. Debussy: Danse sacree et danse profane Ravel: Introduction and Allegro Lavinia Meijer (harp) Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra Marco Boni (conductor) 4.20pm Mozart: Symphony no. 41 in C, 'Jupiter' Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam Ivan Fischer (conductor).