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Someone to Lose

Verdi makes a big move and comes face to face with devastating tragedy. With Kate Molleson.

Kate Molleson follows Verdi as he abandons security in Busseto and moves to Milan in pursuit of operatic success. His gamble appears to pay off when La Scala agrees to stage his first opera, Oberto. But as professional opportunity beckons, personal tragedy strikes. Within just a few years, Verdi loses both children and his young wife, leaving the 26-year-old composer questioning whether he can continue at all.

Aida: Grand March
Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Milano
Claudio Abbado, conductor

Sei Romanze (1838): Nos 1-4
Dennis O'Neill, tenor
Ingrid Surgenor, piano

Oberto, conte di San Bonifacio: Overture
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Neville Marriner, conductor

Un giorno di regno: Sinfonia
Europa Galante
Fabio Biondi, conductor

Requiem: Lux aeterna and Libera me
Christine Brewer, soprano
Karen Cargill, mezzo-soprano
Stuart Neill, tenor
John Relyea, bass
London Symphony Orchestra
Colin Davis, conductor

Produced by Ellie Ajao for BBC Audio Wales

29 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Grand March (from Aida)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : E4194872.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 9.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    6 Romances (Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4)

    Performer: Ingrid Surgenor. Singer: Dennis O'Neill.
    • NAXOS : 8.557778.
    • NAXOS.
    • 2.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio (Sinfonia)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • DECCA : 478 4169.
    • DECCA.
    • 1.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Un Giorno di regno (Sinfonia)

    Orchestra: Europe Galante. Conductor: Fabio Biondi.
    • FREDERICK CHOPIN INSTITUTE : NIFCCD096-97.
    • FREDERICK CHOPIN INSTITUTE.
    • 1.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Requiem (Lux aeterna; Libera Me)

    Singer: Christine Brewer. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Choir: London Symphony Chorus. Conductor: Colin Davis. Singer: Stuart Neill. Singer: Karen Cargill.
    • LSO LIVE : LSO-0683.
    • LSO LIVE.
    • 15.

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