Opera and Ballet on PBS

[Anne]

RICHARD TUCKER GALA: AN OPERA CELEBRATION

Monday, December 15, 2008 9:30 - 11:00 pm

The Richard Tucker Opera Gala concert from New York's Lincoln

Center features celebrated stars such as Renae Fleming, Joyce

DiDonato, Simon Keenlyside, Diana Damrau and others singing

popular pieces by Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Wagner and Bernstein.

Maestro Asher Fisch conducts members of the Metropolitan Opera

Orchestra and the New York Choral Society. (CC, Stereo, HD)




INDEPENDENT LENS

Wonders Are Many: The Making of "Doctor Atomic"

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9 - 10:30 pm

"Wonders Are Many" tells the story of making a grand opera

about the birth of the atomic bomb. This behind-the-scenes

documentary follows composer John Adams and director Peter

Sellars over the course of a year as they work to forge the

tale of J. Robert Oppenheimer into a music drama like no other:

the strange and beautiful Doctor Atomic. (CC, Stereo)



http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/wondersaremany/



GREAT PERFORMANCES

Dance in America: San Francisco Ballet's "Nutcracker"

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 8 - 10:00 pm

Surprisingly, "The Nutcracker" did not receive its first

full-length production in America until 1944 with the San

Francisco Ballet. Great Performances partners with SFB and KQED

San Francisco to bring the company's current production to

television. With its setting transposed to San Francisco's 1915

Pan-Pacific Exposition, SFB artistic director Helgi Tomasson's

production features dazzling new sets by Michael Yeargan and

opulent costumes by Martin Pakledinaz. (CC, Stereo, 1 year)


Check local TV guide for times and dates.

[Harpo]

 
INDEPENDENT LENS

Wonders Are Many: The Making of "Doctor Atomic"

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9 - 10:30 pm

"Wonders Are Many" tells the story of making a grand opera

about the birth of the atomic bomb. This behind-the-scenes

documentary follows composer John Adams and director Peter

Sellars over the course of a year as they work to forge the

tale of J. Robert Oppenheimer into a music drama like no other:

the strange and beautiful Doctor Atomic. (CC, Stereo)

I saw that, also his opera on Klinghoffer.  I went to music camp with John Adams--he looked pretty much the same, except for the scruffy beard. He played clarinet but must have done composing and conducting as well. I was a voice student. He mentions the camp in his autobiography, but his memories of it are different from mine. Isn't that usually the case?