Main content

Mark-Anthony Turnage's Festen

From London's Royal Opera House, Tom Service presents Turnage's gripping new opera, adapted from the cult film by Thomas Vinterberg and starring Allan Clayton and Gerald Finley.

From the Royal Opera House in London, Tom Service presents Turnage's gripping new opera, adapted from the cult film by Thomas Vinterberg and starring Allan Clayton and Gerald Finley.

Festen is Danish for "celebration": wealthy hotel owner Helge is throwing a huge party for his 60th birthday. His elder son Christian gives the first speech - and reveals an appalling secret about Helge's past behaviour.

Festen contains very strong language, adult themes and upsetting scenes. If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues reflected in the opera, details of organisations offering information and support are available from 成人快手 Action Line at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Synopsis of the story and additional information: www.rbo.org.uk/opera-essentials-festen.

Presented by Tom Service, in conversation with Mark-Anthony Turnage

Turnage: Festen

Christian ..... Allan Clayton (tenor)
Michael, younger son ..... St茅phane Degout (baritone)
Helge ..... Gerald Finley (bass-baritone)
Else, mother ..... Rosie Aldridge (mezzo-soprano)
Helena, younger daughter ..... Natalya Romaniw (soprano)
Linda, dead twin sister of Christian ..... Marta Fontanals-Simmons (mezzo-soprano)
Grandma ..... Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano)
Grandpa ..... John Tomlinson (bass)
Helmut, Master of ceremonies ..... Thomas Oliemans (baritone)
Mette, Michael's wife ..... Philippa Boyle (soprano)
Gbatokai, Helena's boyfriend ..... Peter Brathwaite (baritone)
Chef ..... Aled Hall (tenor)
Lars, receptionist ..... Julian Hubbard (tenor)
Pia, waitress ..... Clare Presland (mezzo-soprano)
Michelle, waitress ..... Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano)
Poul, Helge's brother ..... Jeremy White (bass)
Christine, Poul's wife ..... Ailish Tynan (soprano)
Leif, their son ..... Eugene Dillon-Hooper (bass)
Bent, old friend ..... Luke Price (tenor)
Lene, Bent's wife ..... Kiera Lyness (soprano)
Stig ..... Andrew O'Connor (tenor)
Trine, Stig's partner ..... Miranda Westcott (contralto)
Ren茅e, Else's cousin ..... Elizabeth Weisberg (soprano)
Lasse, Ren茅e's husband ..... Patrick Ashcroft (tenor)
Bjorn, family friend ..... Dawid Kimberg (bass)
Kitchen workers ..... Nicholas Sharratt (tenor), Jonathan Fisher (bass)
Solo voices ..... Esther Mallett and Helen Withers (sopranos), Andrea Hazell and Cari Searle (contraltos), Richard Monk and Alex Haigh (tenors), Charbel Mattar and Olle Zetterstr枚m (basses)
Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor Edward Gardner

To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask 成人快手 Sounds to play Opera on 3".

Following the opera, a sequence of music inspired by Herman Melville's classic American novel Moby-Dick, to look forward to next week's Opera on 3: Jake Heggie's opera Moby-Dick from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

12 days left to listen

3 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Sat 22 Mar 2025 18:00
成人快手 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Puccini's La Boh猫me

Next

Jake Heggie's Moby-Dick

See all episodes from Opera on 3

Music Played

  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Festen: Act 1 Scene 1 (Arrivals)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Edward Gardner.

  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Festen: Act 1 Scene 2 (Getting ready)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Edward Gardner.

  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Festen: Act 2 Scene 1 (The party)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Edward Gardner.

  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Festen: Act 2 Scene 2

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Edward Gardner.

  • Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Festen: Act 3, Coda (The next morning)

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Edward Gardner.

  • Peter Mennin

    Concertato 'Moby Dick'

    Orchestra: Albany Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: David Alan Miller.
    • Peter Mennin: Symphony No. 5 ^ 6.
    • Albany Records.
    • 1.

  • Alan Hovhaness

    And God created great whales

    Orchestra: Seattle Symphony. Conductor: Gerard Schwarz.
    • DELOS.

  • Giorgio Federico Ghedini

    Concerto dell'albatro

    Performer: Paolo Ghidoni. Performer: Pietro Bosna. Performer: Emanuela Piemonti. Narrator: Carlo Doglioni Majer. Orchestra: Orchestra i Pomeriggi Musicali. Conductor: Damian Iorio.
    • A. Casella: Triple Concerto, Op. 56 - G.F. Ghedini: Concerto dell'albatro.
    • Naxos.
    • 4-8.

  • Bernard Herrmann

    Moby Dick (cantata after Melville)

    Singer: Richard Edgar鈥怶ilson. Singer: David Wilson鈥怞ohnson. Choir: Danish National Choir. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Sch酶nwandt.
    • Herrmann: Moby Dick & Sinfonietta for Strings.
    • Chandos.
    • 1-11.

Broadcast

  • Sat 22 Mar 2025 18:00
    成人快手 Radio 3