Metropolitan Opera on 88.7-1

When a classical music fan thinks of "Francesca da Rimini", one immediately thinks of Tchaikovsky's famous tone poem. In fact, this brief episodic story from Dante's Inferno, became the most famous opera of a relatively unknown Italian 20th Century composer, Riccardo Zandonai. Librettist Tito Ricordi, Jr. adapted a play drawn from this historical episode, and envisioned it as revival of the grand Italian operatic tradition, with the music of Italy's greatest operatic composer, Giacomo Puccini. Unfortunately for Ricordi, Puccini had no interest in reviving the grand operatic tradition.

Airs Saturday at 10 am on KWTU Classical 88.7-1

Airs Saturday at Noon on KWTU Classical 88.7-1

Listen to a short interview with Thomas Hampson about the role of Macbeth.

The 2011-12 Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcast season continues with a live broadcast of Verdi’s Macbeth, starring Thomas Hampson in the title role. Gianandrea Noseda conducts his first Met performances of Verdi’s opera, adapted from the Shakespeare tragedy, which also stars German soprano Nadja Michael in her Met debut run as Lady Macbeth. Dimitri Pittas reprises his Macduff, seen in the 2007 premiere of Adrian Noble’s production, and Günther Groissböck sings the role of Banquo.