La Bohème
Building on the success of the last 25 years of free live Big Screen broadcasts, the Royal Opera House is delighted to announce that this year’s BP Summer Big Screen performances are The Royal Opera’s La bohème and Falstaff, and The Royal Ballet’s Metamorphosis: Titian 2012.
These world-class productions of opera and ballet will be beamed live from Covent Garden to a record 27 locations up and down the UK as part of the highly anticipated programme. Falstaff and Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 both feature as part of the London 2012 Festival.
The Royal Opera House first screened a live performance on a Big Screen in Covent Garden Piazza 1987. From those humble beginnings, where hundreds of people came to see Plácido Domingo perform in La bohème, it is fitting that 25 years later we celebrate with the return of this most famous of operas along with Falstaff and Metamorphosis:
Titian 2012 and are now able to broadcast to 27 different venues. This incredible growth in this free scheme would not be possible without the support of BP and the BBC.
The Royal Opera’s La bohème will be screened on Thursday 17 May at 7.30pm and Falstaff on Wednesday 30 May at 7.30pm. The Royal Ballet’s Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 will be screened on Monday 16 July at 7.30pm.
Falstaff is part of the World Shakespeare Festival, which is produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company for London 2012 Festival. Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 is also part of the London 2012 Festival, the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad where leading artists from all over the world will come together in the UK’s biggest ever nationwide festival including dance, music, theatre and the visual arts.
Whether audiences are new to ballet and opera or already devotees, the BP Summer Big Screen relays offer a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the very best from the Royal Opera House in unique settings across the UK, on BBC City Centre screens and as part of the Hammersmith Festival and Canary Wharf Arts and Events summer programme. The screenings will also include exclusive backstage footage and live audience interaction.
La bohème - The Royal Opera - LIVE at 7.30pm on Thursday 17 May. Presented by Deborah Bull and Zeb Soanes.
Opera’s greatest love story returns in this beautifully detailed traditional production starring Carmen Giannattasio and Joseph Calleja under the baton of Semyon Bychkov.
Perfect for new opera audiences the free BP Summer Big Screen live relay of Puccini’s La bohème, the story of a struggling poet whose life changes forever after meeting a beautiful fragile young woman, is the ideal place to start.