discop link • #11

newsFULL OF WESTERN PROMISEBy Bob JenkinsThe classic opera is the newestoffering from NBDtv, now a part ofthe DCD group, and features HD recordingsof spectacular opera recordedat such prestigious locations asOpera National de Paris, Grand TheatreGeneva and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.Verdi's UN BALLO IN MASCHERA,based on the life of King Gustav 111 ofSweden is the offering from the OperaNational de Paris. Recorded in June2007, Verdi fills his opera with suchpower, passion and intensity that theaudience is transfixed from the veryfirst note to the very last. Featuringthe Orchestre de l'Opera de Paris, andthe Choeur de l'Opera de Paris, theproduction is directed by SemyonBychkov and stars Marcelo Alvarezand Ludovic Tezier.From the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence,NBDtv has DIE WALKURE, thesecond of four operas in Wagner'sDER RING DES NIBELUNGEN cycle.The production, recorded in July ofthis year is conducted by Sir SimonRattle and features Sir Willard Whiteas Wotan and Robert Gambill asSiegmund.ZORRO: THE SWORD AND THE ROSE,TelemundoDISCOP.Link takes its usual look at what's new onoffer from outside our region, and this time wehave a very varied selection from classic operathrough to classic adventure via a magical island,and one very stressed out modern mum.Telemundo has a classic offeringof a very different nature. Classicadventure with ZORRO: THE SWORDAND THE ROSE. And, as it is a telenovela,you can bet it also has a liberalhelping of tangled love! The 120 x 60minute episodes are based on an originalscript by renowned writer Humberto'Kiko' Olivieri, and boasts aninternationally renowned cast including,Christian Meier (THE STORM),Marlene Favela (GATA SALVAJE,RUBI), Natasha Klauss (THE STORM,HIDDEN PASSION) and many more.With pedigree like this one wouldexpect ZORRO to slash its way to thetop of the ratings and so far theswashbuckling hero has not disappointed.Produced by RTI and SonyPictures International for Telemundo,it debuted in Spain on Antena 3August 20 th in a 5.15pm slot averaging19.8% share, with a peak of24.1%.A dashing, handsome, romanticadventurer Zorro may be, but it cannotbe denied that he is prone to leavinga trail of corpses in his wake.Germany's ohm: tv has a show justright for anyone anticipating a visitfrom the masked man. DIE ANOTHERDAY is their new format, created byCasey Parsons, which could equallyhave been titled, 'All You Ever WantedTo Know About Dying - But WereAfraid To Ask!' In each one-hour episode,one individual gets to livethrough the experience of planningtheir own funeral. Each week, the individualconcerned has to address theuniversal difficulties of confrontingone's own death and its aftermath.From doubts, or certainties, about theafterlife to inheritance tax and will writing.Distressing and tedious it may be,but, as Benjamin Franklin observed,"in this life one may be certain of onlytwo things. Death and taxation!"And, having dealt with one, ohm:tv has another new format to addressthe other. MONEY SPINNERS is a'making money reality show', whichfirst premiered on the BBC in 2006.In each episode a financial expert liveswith participants and guides themthrough a total 'money makeover',showing them how to earn more,learn new skills, save more and selleverything they don't need. Each episodeends with the family concernedcollecting the dream cash reward fortheir efforts.Spain's BRB has just launchedPAPAWA, a 104 x 7 minute series seton an island of the same name. If yougo there with dreams anything canhappen. The island is inhabited by astrange race of creatures, who havethe uncanny ability to turn dreams intonightmares - or not, depending on themood they are in! Shot in HD and aone-of-a-kind, 'cut out' style, the Hispano-Frenchco-production will beavailable from autumn 2008.Also shooting now for delivery in2008, this time in February, is POLLYADLER a 4 x 45 minute comedydrama from Austrian state broadcasterORF. Based on the hit newspapercolumn of the same name, telling thelife and trials of Polly Adler, societyjournalist, and full-time single mother.The writer of the inventive and fastpaced comedy is Polly's alter ego, reallife society journalist and full-time singlemother Angelika Hager, who, withUli Bree invented the character in aregular newspaper column twelveyears ago.If she had a moment, which shealmost certainly does not, Polly couldprobably benefit from some quiet timeon the sofa with Portfolio's CHEF ATHOME. In each of the 131 x 30 minuteepisodes, chef Michael Smith invitesaudiences into his own kitchen andshows how easy it is to create simple,wholesome meals for the whole familyfrom whatever happens to be in thefridge. }48 DISCOP LINK • #11 • NOVEMBER 07