大象传媒

With Katie Derham.

With "Ten Pieces" the 大象传媒 is aiming to inspire a generation of children in primary schools to get creative with Classical Music, and every weekday this week and next, Afternoon on 3 offers a chance to hear the whole works at the beginning of each programme at 2pm.

Today a piece by contemporary American composer John Adams which has a self explanatory title - Short Ride in a Fast Machine ...

For more about Ten Pieces visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01vs08w

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And today's Opera Matinee is Don Quichotte by Jules Massenet
from Grange Park Opera

Massenet based his 5 Act opera only indirectly on Cervantes' novel and the characters within. In Act 1, La Belle Dulcin茅e (sung by Sara Fulgoni) is being pursued by young suitors when Don Quichotte and trusty side-kick Sancho Panza appear on the scene. Something in Don Quichotte's old-fashioned nobility and chivalry appeals to Dulcin茅e. She confides in Don Quichotte that the bandit Tenebrun has stolen a priceless necklace from her and Don Quichotte promises to get it back for her.

Don Quichotte and Sancho Panza set off into the mountains where they are set on by the bandits, led by Tenebrun. They ask the old fool Don Quichotte why he is there in this dangerous place, and Don Quichotte replies truthfully - to recover Dulcin茅e's necklace. Tenebrun is taken by the old knight's honesty and openness and just hands over the jewel.

Don Quichotte returns to Dulcin茅e with the necklace, and at a party asks her to marry him. All the other suitors ridicule the old man and Don Quichotte is laughed out of town.

Not long after, Don Quichotte lies dying, with trusty Sancho Panza still his companion at his side. As he dies, he tells him that the last thing he hears is Dulcin茅e's voice.

Ironically, Massenet - 67 at the time - was in love with a young singer, Lucy Arbell, who sang the role of La Belle Dulcin茅e at the premiere in 1910.

2pm
Ten Pieces:
John Adams
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
大象传媒 Philharmonic
Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

2.05pm:
Opera Matinee:
Massenet
Don Quichotte (Com茅die-h茅ro茂que)

Don Quichotte ..... Clive Bayley (bass)
Sancho Panza ..... David Stout (baritone)
La Belle Dulcin茅e ..... Sara Fulgoni (contralto)

Admirers of Dulcin茅e:
Pedro ..... Prudence Sanders (soprano)
Garcias ..... Sylvie Bedouelle (soprano)
Juan ..... Alberto Sousa (tenor)
Rodriguez ..... Jorge Navarro Colorado: (tenor)

Tenebrun (Chief of the Bandits) ..... Jonathan Alley (spoken)
Bandits: Joe Morgan, Alex Haigh, David Booth, Simon Chalford Gilkes (spoken)

Party Guests: Brock Roberts, Jonathan Alley

大象传媒 Concert Orchestra
Renato Balsadonna (conductor)

4pm
Mendelssohn
Concerto in E minor Op.64 for violin and orchestra
Julia Fischer (violin)
大象传媒 Philharmonic
Juanjo Mena.