BBC Music October 2017

In our October Opera Special issue, we reveal the 20 Greatest Operas of all time, as voted for by 172 of the world’s leading opera stars, including Renée Fleming, Plácido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa and Bryn Terfel. James Naughtie speaks to superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann about the challenges facing the art form ahead of Kaufmann’s new BBC Four programme, Tenor for the Ages, and we take a tour of the Victoria and Albert museum’s new exhibition Opera: Passion, Power and Politics, which brings the history of opera to life. Plus, presenter Lucy Worsley tells us about her new documentary, which explores how operas were shaped by the cities they were created in. And, on your free cover CD, we present a recital of arias by the opera greats, including Mozart, Haydn, Rossini and Handel.