James Bolam on Rodney Bewes, Gilbert & George, Marnie the opera
Arts news. Actor James Bolam talks about his Likely Lads co-star, Rodney Bewes, who died yesterday. Plus artists Gilbert & George on 50 years of living and working together.
Yesterday saw the announcement of the death Rodney Bewes, the actor most fondly remembered playing the aspirational Bob in the BBC sitcom The Likely Lads. His co-star from the series James Bolam talks about working with Bewes in one of sitcom's most famous double-acts and the supposed feud between the two.
As Gilbert & George celebrate 50 years of living and working together, Kirsty visits them at their Spitalfields home and studio to discuss their career, a new exhibition called The Beard Pictures and a new book, What is Gilbert & George?
Marnie, the book by Winston Graham that inspired Hitchcock's thriller of the same name, has now inspired composer and opera wunderkind Nico Muhly to create his third opera, also called Marnie. Music critic Alexandra Coghlan attended its world premiere at English National Opera and reviews.
Plus we ask music critic Norman Lebrecht to discuss whether opera has become a derivative art form, and we pay tribute to Russian opera bass-baritone, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who has died at the age of 55.
Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Julian May.
Last on
Gilbert & George
The Beard Pictures by Gilbert & George are on display now at The White Cube, London until Sunday 28 January 2018.
What is Gilbert & George? is published by Heni Publishing.
Marnie
Marnie, an English National Opera production is on at the London Coliseum, London from Sunday 26 November until Sunday 3 December 2017.
You can listen to Marnie on Saturday 9 December at 18:30 on BBC Radio 3.
Image: Sasha Cook as Marnie, ENO © Richard Hubert Smith
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Kirsty Lang |
| Interviewed Guest | James Bolam |
| Interviewed Guest | Gilbert Proesch |
| Interviewed Guest | George Passmore |
| Interviewed Guest | Alexandra Coghlan |
| Interviewed Guest | Norman Lebrecht |
| Producer | Julian May |
Broadcast
- Wed 22 Nov 201719:15BBC Radio 4
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