Take Me to the Opera

Zeinab Badawi meets Sir Bryn Terfel, one of the most distinguished singers of our age. A star who is in demand on stages across the world, Bryn has stayed true to his Welsh roots and is a great proponent for Welsh culture. He invites Zeinab behind the scenes at the Royal Opera House and also to his native Wales where he still lives and where he is recording an album of traditional folk songs.

Zeinab Badawi meets Sir Antonio Pappano as he ends his celebrated tenure as Music Director of the Royal Opera House. Sir Antonio has railed against the perception of opera as elitist and has supported and nurtured young talent throughout his career. Coming from a modest background, he tells Zeinab why he believes opera is a music that can be enjoyed by everyone from all walks of life.

Zeinab Badawi ventures into the English countryside to go behind-the-scenes at the historic opera venue of Glyndebourne. She asks how far Glyndebourne is leading the way in trying to make opera fit for the future through initiatives around sustainability and diversity. Zeinab discovers the history of Glyndebourne, from the first modest performances to its present-day status as a world-class venue.

Zeinab Badawi goes to Athens to celebrate the marking of the centenary of the birth of the Greek-American opera soprano Maria Callas. Known as La Divina, Callas revolutionized opera and changed it forever. Her musical genius and extraordinary performance skills left an unprecedented legacy. But her incredible life and early tragic death also reflected the darker side of fame.

Zeinab Badawi follows the incredible story of one of the greatest sopranos of our time, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, as she celebrates her 80th birthday. After a successful stint as a teen pop star in New Zealand, she left for London to further her operatic career, soon becoming a star. When she retired in 2017, Dame Kiri devoted herself to her foundation, which nurtures young opera hopefuls.