Afternoon on 3 - Towards Messiaen: The Stage - Episode 5

Presented by Louise Fryer. Part of a series celebrating 100 years since the birth of Messiaen, with a focus on his music in context of French opera and ballet. With a selection of odd couples across the centuries, including Romeo and Juliet, Bacchus and the abandoned Ariadne, as well as Rameau's complete opera celebrating brotherly the love of Castor and Pollux. Rameau: Overture (Hippolyte et Aricie) Les Talens Lyriques Christophe Rousset (director) Gounod: Va, je t'ai pardonne...Nuit d'hymenee (Romeo et Juliette) Nathalie Dessay (soprano) Jonas Kaufmann (tenor) Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon National Orchestra Michael Schonwandt (conductor) Roussel: Bacchus et Ariane Suite No 2 BBC National Orchestra of Wales Walter Weller (conductor) Rameau: Castor et Pollux Castor ...... Finnur Bjarnasson (countertenor) Pollux ...... Henk Neven (baritone) Phoebe, a Spartan princess ...... Veronique Gens (soprano) Telaira, daughter of the Sun ...... Anna Maria Panzarella (soprano) First Athlete/Mercury/First Spartan ...... Anders J Dahlin (countertenor) High Priest of Jupiter ...... Thomas Oliemans (tenor) A Follower of Hebe/A Blessed Spirit/Cleone, Phoebe's confidante ...... Judith van Wanroij (soprano) Jupiter ...... Nicolas Teste (bass) Netherlands Opera Chorus (prepared by Martin Wright) Les Talens Lyriques Christophe Rousset (conductor).