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Land of Fortune

Episode 2 of 2

Francesco da Mosto takes to the Italian road in search of Shakespeare. He looks at Italy as the land of adventure and ambition, visiting Venice, Rome and Stromboli.

Francesco da Mosto takes a look at Italy as the land of adventure and ambition - where fortunes are made and battles are fought.

Beginning in Venice with actor Ciaran Hinds, Francesco considers how his home town so renowned for its justice struck Shakespeare as the perfect setting for his disturbing tale of what happens to an outsider who goes against the law in The Merchant of Venice.

Heading south to Rome, Francesco discovers how in his great Roman plays Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare used this ancient city as a smokescreen to address the most burning political issues of his day while avoiding trouble with the Elizabethan censors. Francesco meets Shakespearean actor Mark Rylance, and also pops in to Rome's very own Globe to understand modern Italy's fascination with our English Bard.

Finally he travels from Naples to the beautiful Island of Stromboli, just off the north coast of Sicily, a magical setting for Shakespeare's final great masterpiece - The Tempest.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 8 Jan 2023 23:35

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Music Played

  • The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

    I Vitelloni

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Francesco da Mosto
Participant Ciaran Hinds
Participant Mark Rylance
Writer Francesco da Mosto
Executive Producer Basil Comely
Series Producer Andrea Carnevali

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