Two shows worth mentioning to fans of Doctor Who.
One is Casanova, in which David Tennant plays the title role of the famous ladies' man. Also featuring Rose Byrne, Peter O'Toole and Matt Lucas it screens on UKTV from 8:30pm Sat Sept 29.
The other is a documentary on the ABC, What the Future Sounded Like, looking at the composers of the groundbreaking Electronic Music Studios of Britain. In the 1960s these musical masters developed new sounds and synthesizers for Doctor Who. Eventually the instrumentation made its way into pop music via Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, David Bowie. Even today Radiohead have used EMS.
It airs 10pm Tue Sept 18 on ABC.
Press Releases:
Casanova takes us from the decadent streets of the 18th Century Venice to the salons of pre-revolution Paris , and on to the London courts of George III, until a trip to Naples finally breaks Casanova’s heart. In the Age of Reason and Science, gambling and gallantries, of pleasure and entertainment, Casanova has it all and does it all. In turn he is a violinist, a priest, a gambler, a lottery director and intellectual. He is both peasant and nobleman, rich and poor. But he is one thing above all others – a lover. Sex is Casanova’s lifeblood. But he is never casual nor flippant. He loves with total commitment and total sincerity, however temporarily. He sleeps with courtesans, actresses and even a nun. His life is dedicated to pleasure. But one thing eludes him throughout his life – perfect happiness with his one true love – Henriette.
44 years later, Casanova is a librarian in a castle, far exiled from Venice , is dying. Into his life comes Edith a young parlour maid. Something in Edith ignites the old passion in Casanova and he finds himself regaling her with tales of his adventures. Through Edith, he learns to love the old Casanova again and sends out messengers in search of Henriette. It is one last, desperate attempt to see the woman he loves before he dies…
Fast paced and edgy, the mini series alternates between the gripping love triangle involving the young Casanova, Henriette and her husband, Grimani and the swan song of the world’s most notorious lothario.
Stars: David Tennant (Doctor Who and Blackpool), Rose Byrne ( Troy and I Capture the Castle), Peter O’Toole (Troy and Gulliver’s Travels), Rupert Penry-Jones (Charlotte Gray and Hilary and Jackie), Matt Lucas (Little Britain) Laura Fraser (Vanilla Sky and A Knight’s Tale).
STARTS SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER AT 8:30PM on UK TV.
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From Dr Who to The Dark Side of the Moon to modern day dance music, the pioneering members of the Electronic Music Studios radically changed the sound-scape of the 20th century. Screening Tuesday 18 September at 10pm, What the Future Sounded Like tells the fascinating story of British electronic music.
In postwar Britain, musician and composer Tristram Cary was using materials left over from the war to experiment with electronic music. Uninhibited, anything went with regard to the sounds he invented. He also moonlighted as a composer for pop cult films like The Ladykillers and the seminal television series Dr Who.
In the 1960s an exiled Russian aristocrat Peter Zinovieff, borrowed money from his rich British wife to purchase two military grade computers. Costing as much as a house at the time, he used them specifically for his personal experiments in electronic music. But it was his collaboration with music engineer David Cockerell that helped revolutionise electronic music.
By the end of the 60s, Cary joined forces with Zinovieff and Cockerell to establish EMS (Electronic Music Studios). EMS was the most advanced computer-music facility in the world. They created incredible sounds for films about nuclear power reactors, adverts for early Olivetti computers and for the British Pavilion at the 1967 World Expo. Played back today this early electronic music still arouses wonder at its creation and power.
EMS's great legacy is the VCS3, Britain's first synthesizer and rival of the American Moog. The VCS3 was a uniquely British invention used by some of the most popular artists of the time including: The Who, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music and David Bowie. Almost 30 years on, the VCS3 is still used by modern electronic artists like Aphex Twin and Radiohead.
What the Future Sounded Like explores a lost chapter in music history, uncovering a group of passionate composers and innovators who harnessed technology and new ideas to re-imagine the boundaries of music and sound.
10pm Tue Sept 18 on ABC.
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