BP Big Screens 2013

The Royal Opera House is delighted to announce that this year’s BP Big Screen performances are The Royal Ballet’s Mayerling on Thursday 13 June at 7.30pm, and The Royal Opera’s La rondine on Thursday 11 July at 7.30pm and Tosca on Thursday 18 July at 7.30pm. 2013 marks the first of a new five-year commitment from BP to support the live and free screenings from the Royal Opera House. These world-class productions of opera and ballet will be beamed live from Covent Garden to 22 locations throughout the UK including Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets.

Every BP Big Screen is a unique experience and this year will be no different. Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling will mark the final performance at the Royal Opera House of much-loved Royal Ballet Principal Mara Galeazzi in the role of Mary Vetsera. Fresh from her 20th year singing with The Royal Opera, Angela Gheorghiu returns to the BP Big Screens with La rondine. Gheorghiu has performed the role of Magda, one of her signature roles, in every revival since the creation of this production and has been described as ‘simply entrancing.’ There are very few operas as famous or popular as Puccini’s Tosca and after over 470 performances this operatic great shows no sign of tiring. It is a must see for anyone wanting to try opera for the first time. New for all three BP Big Screens in 2013 will be UK broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, a live anchor from the Royal Opera House alongside a special guest presenter down among the crowd in Trafalgar Square.

The BP Big Screens are the perfect way to share world-class opera and ballet with friends and family for free. The three productions will feature exclusive backstage films, competitions and live interaction, and will bring some of the Royal Opera House’s best performances live to special locations across the UK. Whether audiences are new to ballet and opera or already devotees, the BP Big Screen relays offer a wonderful opportunity for you to enjoy the very best performances from the Royal Opera House.

Kenneth Macmillan’s Mayerling: The Royal Ballet live
7.30pm, Thursday 13 June
A dark drama of political intrigue, twisted romance and morbid obsession, set to dramatic music by Liszt. Mayerling was created for The Royal Ballet by Kenneth MacMillan, one of the 20th century’s greatest choreographers, and is a signature work for the Company. This performance will feature Royal Ballet Principals Edward Watson, Mara Galeazzi and Sarah Lamb.

Giacomo Puccini’s La Rondine: The Royal Opera live
7.30pm, Thursday 11 July
Glamorous 1920s Paris provides the backdrop for some of Puccini’s most exquisite music in this romantic and elegant production, starring Angela Gheorghiu as the beautiful courtesan Magda and Charles Castronovo as her eager young suitor Ruggero. Operalia winner Sabina Puértolas and former Royal Opera Artist Edgaras Montvidas sing the comic lovers Lisette and Prunier.

Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca: The Royal Opera live
7.30pm, Thursday 18 July
Passion, intrigue, revenge, a beautiful diva and fabulous music – Tosca is one of the great opera experiences. This story is a thrilling and heart wrenching tale of passionate love, jealousy, murder and suicide featuring Martina Serafin as the tragic Tosca and Aleksandrs Antonenko as her lover Cavaradossi, with Scott Hendricks as the evil Baron Scarpia who plots their destruction.