BBC - Taste of Italian Opera (2010)

What do the spirited and robust scores of Italian opera and the infinite joys of the country’s food have in common? Chef Rick Stein heads to Italy to find out. In this colourful special, top chef Rick Stein takes a lighthearted look at the role that food played in the creation of Italian opera and shows how music and food are intrinsically linked in Italy. He draws parallels between cooking and composing, noting how both involve the skilful combination of ingredients and how they share the common purpose of bringing pleasure to many and lifting the human spirit. Rick also explains why he thinks the music of three great Italian composers – Verdi, Puccini and Rossini – is connected to the food of the regions where they lived and worked. All were passionate about the delights of the dining table. Puccini loved the simple dishes from his native Tuscany, Verdi had his own farm, and many extravagant dishes are named after notorious gourmand Rossini. Travelling the trattorias of northern Italy and talking to academics, singers and conductors, Rick uncovers the deep relationship between creativity and convivial cuisine.

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