The dying Wagner reflects on his unfinished Buddhist opera, and is reconciled with his wife. Martyn Brabbins conducts a superb British cast, BBC Symphony Orchestra ensemble and IRCAM electronics.
For decades, Wagner pondered an opera on a Buddhist theme. Starting from the sketches he left behind, Harvey has built a rich operatic fantasy. It mingles scenes from Wagner's domestic life with the myth of Prakriti, whose love for the Buddhist monk Ananda is at first thwarted, but finally reaches a chaste fulfilment.
The UK premiere of Jonathan Harvey's opera was recorded during the Total Immersion Weekend at the Barbican in London in January. Presented by Tom Service with Professor Jonathan Cross.
Jonathan Harvey: Wagner Dream (UK premiere).
Simon Bailey (bass) ..... Vairochana
Claire Booth (soprano) ..... Prakriti
Richard Angas (bass) ..... Old Brahmin
Andrew Staples (tenor) ..... Ananda
Roderick Williams (bass baritone) ..... Buddha
Hilary Summers (mezzo) ..... Mother of Prakriti
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Gilbert Nouno & Franck Rossi (IRCAM) electronics
Martyn Brabbins (conductor).
Listen: Sat 5 May 2012, 20:30,BBC Radio 3