Why do women die in opera?

Radio highlights

Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 25 June, 1pm

As artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival, last year pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard introduced his 'Collage-Montage' concert. 'The whole thing is a game that evokes memories and provokes discoveries,' he explained. This year he repeats the trick, with a concert in which a sequence of unbroken musical clips juxtaposes classic fare with new music. Penny Gore introduces the highlights.

Why do women die in opera?
Saturday 26 June, 12.15pm

Verdi’s Violetta, Strauss’s Salome and Puccini’s Tosca all met sticky ends in their respective operas. Journalist and opera fan Martin Kettle finds out why so many women die in opera, unearthing some unexpected answers on the way.

Opera on 3
Saturday 26 June, 6pm

The loves and losses of Aida and Radames are brought to life by The Royal Opera House, London in Verdi’s exotic opera Aida. Soprano Micaela Carosi and Argentine tenor Marcello Àlvarez star as the ill-fated pair in this performance conducted by Nicola Luisotti.

TV highlights

Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress
Thursday 24 June, 8pm

This legendary production of Stravinsky's operatic masterpiece comes from Glyndebourne in 1980. Starring soprano Felicity Lott and bass-baritone Samuel Ramey, the sets are by David Hockney, and Bernard Haitink conducts the London Philharmonic.

Gareth Malone Goes to Glyndebourne
Thursday 24 June, 9pm

In the second of three episodes, Gareth Malone teaches his group of teenagers what it takes to be in an operatic chorus by going to see a production of La bohème at the Royal Opera House. Malone’s chorus will go on to perform Julian Philips’ new opera Knight Crew on the main stage of Glyndebourne in six months’ time.