Shakespeare Lives - Ballet, Opera and the Bard

Ballet, Opera and the Bard
Shakespeare Lives

A celebration of Shakespeare's lasting impact on opera and ballet. Join presenter Ore Oduba as he explores how the great works written over 400 years ago are still influencing composers and choreographers today.

Royal Ballet Principals Lauren Cuthbertson and Edward Watson showcase extracts in rehearsal from Christopher Wheeldon's award-winning production of The Winter's Tale with ballet master Jonathan Cope. Lauren also performs the Potion Scene from Kenneth MacMillan's timeless Romeo and Juliet.

There's live opera rehearsal from Verdi's Falstaff with Jette Parker Young Artist Yuri Yurchuk led by director Amy Lane. Soprano Susana Gaspar performs Desdemona's hauntingly beautiful final prayer from Verdi's Otello and renowned Shakespearian actor Geoffrey Streatfeild revisits the original text with extracts from The Winter's Tale and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Broadcast: BBC, 23 April 2016
Duration: 1 hour