1717: Singing Superstars
1717, Naples. A young boy undergoes a life-changing operation 鈥� he will become Farinelli, opera鈥檚 first great star and a symbol of a new celebrity culture.
1717, Naples. In a modest room, a young boy undergoes a dangerous operation that will determine his future. If he survives, his voice will never break. Carlo Broschi will become Farinelli 鈥� one of the greatest and most celebrated singers in history.
This programme explores the rise of opera鈥檚 first international superstars. From the extraordinary appeal of the castrati to the fierce rivalries of diva sopranos, it traces how star performers 鈥� rather than composers 鈥� drive the spread of opera across Europe. As theatres expand and audiences grow, music enters a new age of celebrity, spectacle and commercial ambition.
Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major new 麻豆社 Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For Episodes 9 to 16, Gillian welcomes Suzannah Lipscomb to help her explore the fascinating stories and rich sound worlds of the Late Renaissance and Baroque.
Producer: Chris Taylor
Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford
Story Consultant: Kate Leys
Series Editor for 麻豆社 Audio: Emma Harding
Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the 麻豆社 National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan.
MUSIC DETAILS
Riccardo Broschi: Artaserse 鈥� Son qual nave ch鈥檃gitata
Ewa Ma艂as-Godlewska (soprano)
Derek Lee Ragin (countertenor)
Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset (conductor)
Gregorio Allegri: Miserere mei, Deus
Alessandro Scarlatti: Il Cambise 鈥� 鈥淢i cinga la fama鈥�
Talenti Vulcanici
Carlo Vistoli (countertenor)
Mark-Anthony Turnage: Anna Nicole 鈥� 鈥淧artay!鈥�
Eva-Maria Westbroek (soprano)
Gerald Finley (baritone)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Antonio Pappano (conductor)
George Frideric Handel: Serse 鈥� 鈥淥mbra mai fu鈥�
Andreas Scholl (countertenor)
Akademie f眉r Alte Musik Berlin
John Gay (arr. Pepusch): The Beggar鈥檚 Opera 鈥� 鈥淐ease Your Funning鈥� / 鈥淲hy How Now, Madam Flirt?鈥�
The Broadside Band
Jeremy Barlow (conductor)
George Frideric Handel: Alessandro 鈥� 鈥淧laca l鈥檃lma鈥�
Lucy Crowe (soprano)
Mary Bevan (soprano)
London Early Opera
Bridget Cunningham (conductor)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Die Zauberfl枚te 鈥� Overture
Akademie f眉r Alte Musik Berlin
Ren茅 Jacobs (conductor)
Last on
Music Played
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Riccardo Broschi
Artaserse: Son qual nave ch'agitata
Singer: Ewa Ma艂as-Godlewska. Singer: Derek Lee Ragin. Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.- NAIVE.
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Gregorio Allegri
Miserere Mei
Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.- CORO.
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Alessandro Scarlatti
Il Cambise, Act 2, Scene 9, Aria "Mi cinga la fama"
Singer: Carlo Vistoli. Ensemble: Talenti Vulcanici. Conductor: Stefano Demicheli.- ARCANA.
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Mark鈥怉nthony Turnage
Anna Nicole, Act 2, Scene 9: 'Partay!'
Singer: Eva-Maria Westbroek. Singer: Gerald Finley. Choir: Royal Opera House Chorus. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. -
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George Frideric Handel
Serse (excerpt)
Orchestra: Berlin Academy for Ancient Music. Conductor: Andreas Scholl.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
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John Gay
The Beggar's Opera (excerpt)
Music Arranger: Christopher Pepusch. Singer: Bronwen Mills. Singer: Anne Dawson. Ensemble: Broadside Band. Conductor: Jeremy Barlow.- HYPERION.
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George Frideric Handel
Alessandro, HWV 21 (Placa l'alma)
Singer: Lucy Crowe. Singer: Mary Bevan. Orchestra: London Early Opera. Conductor: Bridget Cunningham.- SIGNUM.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Magic Flute Overture
Orchestra: Berlin Academy for Ancient Music. Conductor: Ren茅 Jacobs.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
Broadcast
- Sat 27 Jun 2026 13:00麻豆社 Radio 3