Afternoon on 3 - Thursday Opera Matinee - La Wally

When an opera ends with its two leading characters falling to their deaths in an avalanche it's no surprise that it's rarely seen on stage. But La Wally, by Puccini's contemporary Alfredo Catalani, contains some glorious music, including an aria popular from recitals and film-scores. The leading Dutch dramatic soprano Eva Maria Westbroek takes the title role, with leading Swedish tenor Mats Carlsson as her doomed lover in this concert performance from the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. The opera is introduced by Louise Fryer. Catalani: La Wally Wally......Eva Maria Westbroek, soprano Stamminger......Kristof Klorek, bass-baritone Giuseppe Hagenbach......Mats Carlsson, tenor Vincenzo Gellner......Piero Terranova, baritone Walter......Inna Dukach, soprano Afra......Serena Malfi, mezzo-soprano Il Pedone......Hugo Oliveira, baritone Netherlands Radio Chorus Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Giuliano Carella, conductor 4.20pm Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen Markus Werba, baritone Orchestra National de France Daniele Gatti, conductor 4.35pm Bartok: Suite - The Miraculous Mandarin Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra Philippe Jordan, conductor.