Radio diary

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 11

Radio diary

Antony Hopkins studies Schubert’s Symphony No 5 in B flat in this week’s Discovering Music on the Concert Programme at 8.33 this evening. Hopkins finds this “utterly captivating” work fresh and unassuming. Then the symphony can be heard, with Thomas Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic. Lord Jebbings wants his butler taught the trombone, and calls in Mr Shakeshaft. In Michael Hardwick’s comedythriller A Ghastly Performance, Mr Shake shaft finds this one of his most disturbing experiences as a music teacher. Listen at 9.05 this evening to this play from the 8.8. C.

Until fairly recently, several of Rossini’s serious operas, for which he was best known in his own day, had been neglected and forgotten. Now, some excellent recordings of these operas have been released. Tomorrow evening at 8.15 on the Concert Programme can be heard a first recording of La Donna del Lago, as originally conceived by Rossini for the Naples premiere in 1819. Rossini based the opera on Walter Scott's narrative poem. Maurizio Pollini conducts the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Prague Chamber Chorus. David Hamilton’s “And Music Shall Untune the Sky” is given a premiere broadcast on the Concert

Programme in Auckland Philharmonia Prom Concert at 8 on Saturday evening. This work was commissioned by the Philharmonia for the 1988 Festival Proms. Mozart, Borodin and Dvorak are also on the programme. Donald Johanos conducts the Philharmonia and the Auckland Choral Society. Alwyn Owen throws his line in among 200 crocodiles and several thousand magpie geese to fish for barramundi in a Northern Territory billabong, in Spectrum’s Territory: tales from Australia’s Top End on National radio at 9.20 a.m. on Sunday. Barramundi is good eating for breakfast, if you are up that early. — James Homes