Audiobooks narrated by Michael Aldridge

The Figaro Plays: The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother: Three BBC Rad

"A trilogy of classic plays by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais, including The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother Forerunner to the renowned operas, The Figaro Plays by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais are a celebration of how intelligence and wit can bring any servant level with their aristocratic masters. Considered scandalous in their time, the plays went on to be adapted by Rossini (The Barber of Seville) and Mozart (The Marriage of Figaro) to become some of the most popular and acclaimed operas of all time. These original plays show us the stories behind these popular operas. In The Barber of Seville, Count Almaviva falls in love with a young noblewoman, but every attempt to seduce her is countered by her watchful guardian. Only his resourceful servant Figaro may get him what he wants... The Marriage of Figaro sees the Count grown tired of his marriage to Rosina, and instead his thoughts turn to Suzannah, Figaro's own fiancée. Will Figaro's wiles prove sufficient to save two marriages? And in The Guilty Mother, the Countess Almaviva finds troubles of her own with an illegitimate child on the way, and a scheming Major on hand to make every slip-up into a catastrophe. Once again, all depend on Figaro... Translated by John Wells, the English actor, satirist, screenwriter, and co-founder of the magazine Private Eye, this trilogy of comic dramas are masterpieces of power, humour, and marital misadventure. The Barber of Seville Cast Gary Bond - Count Almaviva Nickolas Grace - Figaro Dorothy Tutin - Rosina Michael Aldridge - Bartholo Peter Pratt - Master Basil Michael Bilton - The Youth John Wells - Wide-awake Peter Acre - Notary Arnold Diamond - An Alcade The Marriage of Figaro Cast Dorothy Tutin - The Countess Gary Bond - Count Almaviva Nickolas Grace - Figaro Alison Steadman - Suzannah Michael Aldridge - Bartholo Jean Boht - Marcellina John McAndrew - The Cherub Peter Pratt - Basil Moir Leslie - Little Fanny Michael Bilton - Antonio John Wells - Don Guzman Bridlegoose Peter Acre - Grab Michael Jenner - Ebenezer Sunshine Helena Breck & Narissa Knights - Bridesmaids The Guilty Mother Cast Alison Steadman - Suzannah Nickolas Grace - Figaro Norman Rodway - Major Bejorass Gary Bond - Count Almaviva John McAndrew - Leon Moir Leslie - Floresta Dorothy Tutin - The Countess John Wells - Wilhelm Arnold Diamond - Mr Dim Production credits Music Composed & Conducted by Carl Davis Written by Pierre Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais Translated by John Wells Produced and Directed by Ian Cotterell Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 3: 29 May 1985 (The Barber of Seville) 12 June 1985 (The Guilty Mother) 1 January 1986 (The Marriage of Figaro) ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais (Author), Alison Steadman, Dorothy Tutin, Full Cast, Gary Bond, John Mcandrew, Michael Aldridge, Moir Leslie, Nickolas Grace, Norman Rodway (Narrator)

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Terence Rattigan: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: 13 full-cast productions: The Winslow Boy, The Brown

"13 of the finest works by the world-renowned playwright, as heard on BBC radio Sir Terence Rattigan was one of Britain's greatest playwrights, renowned for his well-crafted dramas of upper-class manners and repressed sexuality. He was hugely popular throughout the 1940s and early 50s, and had the rare distinction of having plays running in three West End theatres simultaneously. Having fallen out of fashion in the Sixties, his work is now enjoying a huge revival. Included here are some of his most esteemed plays, adapted for radio and brought together in chronological order in one statement collection. We begin with the sparkling comedy French Without Tears, introduced by the author himself. Next is one of his most famous plays, The Winslow Boy, the moving story of an innocent boy accused of theft. The Browning Version features a teacher overwhelmed by a schoolboy's unexpected gift, Adventure Story tells the dramatic tale of Alexander the Great, and The Final Test, adapted from Rattigan's 1951 television play, tells the comic story of a veteran cricketer's son who prefers music and poetry to cricket. The Deep Blue Sea centres around the troubled relationship of Hester and Freddie, who need each other, but are worlds apart. In Separate Tables, a radio version of the classic stage play set in the 1950s, a small group of residents at a Bournemouth hotel discover one of them harbours a devastating secret. Variation on a Theme is a reworking of Alexander Dumas' classic 19th-century novel La Dame aux Camélias, Ross explores the enigmatic life of T.E. Lawrence and Man and Boy focuses on a fraudulent financier who, with his worldwide empire facing collapse, flees to the New York apartment of his estranged son. Also featured are A Bequest to the Nation, a dramatised account of the Battle of Trafalgar and Lord Nelson's affair with Emma Hamilton, and In Praise of Love, inspired by the relationship between Rattigan's friend, the actor Rex Harrison, and his wife Kay Kendall. Last up is Rattigan's final play, Cause Célèbre, based on the story of Alma Rattenbury, who went on trial with her teenage lover for the murder of her husband. And in two bonus documentaries, Kaleidoscope: Terence Rattigan and Conversations with Terence Rattigan, the great author discusses his life, work and influence. Among the array of stars in these enthralling dramas are John Gielgud, Alan Bates, Diana Dors, Siân Phillips, Anna Massey, Amanda Root, Peter Sallis, Michael Williams, Saeed Jaffrey and Carleton Hobbs. NB: This collection contains language that reflects the attitudes of the era in which the plays were written Production credits Written by Terence Rattigan First published in 1936 (French without Tears), 1942 (While the Sun Shines),1946 (The Winslow Boy), 1948 (The Browning Version), 1949 (Adventure Story), 1951 (The Final Test), 1952 (The Deep Blue Sea), 1954 (Separate Tables), 1958 (Variation on a Theme), 1960 (Ross), 1963 (Man and Boy), 1970 (A Bequest to the Nation), 1973 (In Praise of Love), 1977 (Cause Célèbre) Contents List · French Without Tears Introduction by Terence Rattigan · The Winslow Boy · The Browning Version · Adventure Story · The Final Test · Deep Blue Sea · Separate Tables · Variation on a Theme · Ross · Man and Boy · A Bequest to the Nation · In Praise of Love · Cause Célèbre · Kaleidoscope: Terence Rattigan Presented by Christopher Matthew with Terence Rattigan · Conversations with Terence Rattigan ©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Terence Rattigan (Author), Alan Bates, Angela Baddeley, Anthony Quayle, Benjamin Whitrow, Carleton Hobbs, Full Cast, John Sir Gielgud, Michael Aldridge, Michael Bryant, Siân Phillips (Narrator)

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Winslow Boy, The (Classic Radio Theatre)

"‘It is easy to do justice - very hard to do right.’ When he is accused of stealing a five-shilling postal order, fourteen-year-old Ronnie Winslow is expelled from naval college. But his father believes his claim of innocence and, determined to clear his name, engages the most famous barrister in England to fight his case. It is up to Sir Robert Morton to take on the Establishment in order to ‘let right be done’... Adapted as a famous British film starring Robert Donat, The Winslow Boy is a moving story about fairness and fighting for a principle. This gripping BBC Radio adaptation from 1981 features a distinguished cast including Michael Aldridge, Pauline Letts, Sarah Badel and Michael Maloney."

Terrence Rattigan (Author), Full Cast, Michael Aldridge, Michael Maloney, Pauline Letts, Sarah Badel (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Michael Aldridge