Audiences across the entire country are invited to bring a blanket, pack a picnic and head to one of the free Royal Opera House BP Big Screens as part of the Royal Opera House’s dazzling summer programme.
Now in its 30th year, the partnership between BP and the Royal Opera House enables more than half a million people across the UK to experience world-class opera and ballet in locations ranging (in 2018) from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight.
This year’s programme begins with The Royal Ballet’s brand new production of Swan Lake (12 June) with new choreography by Liam Scarlett, followed by Puccini’s iconic and romantic La bohème (26 June) and Mozart’s dazzling tragi-comic opera Don Giovanni (12 July).
With exclusive backstage footage, competitions and a chance to enjoy the great British outdoors in summer, the screenings continue to be a part of the summer social calendar. Last year more than 33,500 people attended a BP Big Screen performance.
Swan Lake is one of the best-loved of classical ballets, with a sublime score by Tchaikovsky. The Royal Ballet’s new production (12 June) is set to enchant audiences. The ballet follows the story of Prince Siegfried who one night encounters a flock of swans, one of whom reveals herself to be a beautiful woman called Odette. Odette is being held under a spell by the evil Von Rothbart, who later disguises his daughter Odile as Odette to trick Prince Siegfried into breaking his vow of love. But Siegfried is determined to save Odette, whatever the cost .
Puccini’s ever-popular opera La bohème (26 June) depicts life in 19th-century bohemian Paris and explores the love affair between the penniless poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì, which is threatened by Mimì’s tuberculosis. The couple eventually separate so that Mimì can find a richer lover to provide her with the care she needs, but are reunited in her final hours when she returns to the only man she ever loved.
We move from romantic tragedy to tragi-comedy with Don Giovanni (12 July), which follows the story of the seductive and swaggering anti-hero Giovanni as his womanizing leads him to murder the father of one of his victims – with devastating results..
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House said:
‘With the partnership between BP now in its 30th year, our BP Big Screens have become a staple of the summer diary. Over the years, this collaboration has enabled more than half a million people to experience ballet and opera – many for the first time – and BP’s ongoing commitment means that together we are able to continue bringing the best the Royal Opera House has to offer to an ever-wider audience.’
Des Violaris, Director – UK Arts and Culture at BP said:
“BP remains committed to the long-standing support of the arts and culture sector and is pleased to celebrate the 30 years partnership with the Royal Opera House. We hope to welcome new and bigger audiences to see world-class opera and ballet at sites all over the country in 2018 building on the success of the past three decades.”
Visit http://www.roh.org.uk/about/bp-big-screens/whats-on for more information.
The 2017/18 BP Big Screen Season is as follows:
Swan Lake, Tuesday 12 June, 7.30pm (pre-screening starts at 7pm)
Showing at Canada Square in Canary Wharf, Trafalgar Square, The Scoop at London Bridge, General Gordon Square, Woolwich (all London), Tattershall Lakes Country Park (Lincolnshire), Bristol Millenium Square (Bristol), Sandy Balls Holiday Village (New Forest, Hampshire), Portsmouth Guildhall Square (Portsmouth), Queens Drive (Exmouth), Swansea Castle Square (Swansea, Wales) and The Piazza, University of Warwick (Warwick).
La bohème, Tuesday 26 June, 7.30pm (pre-screening starts at 7pm)
Showing at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, Bembridge (Isle of Wight), Lyric Square in Hammersmith, Canada Square in Canary Wharf, Trafalgar Square, The Scoop at London Bridge City, General Gordon Square in Woolwich (all London), Duthie Park (Aberdeen), Bristol Millennium Square (Bristol), Portsmouth Guildhall Square (Portsmouth), Queens Drive Square (Exmouth), Swansea Castle Square (Swansea, Wales), Barmouth Bay Holiday Park (Tal-Y-Bont, Gwynedd, Wales) The Piazza, University of Warwick (Warwick) and Castle Howard (Yorkshire).
Don Giovanni, Thursday 12 July at 7pm (pre-screening starts at 6.30pm)
Lyric Square in Hammersmith, Canada Square in Canary Wharf, Trafalgar Square, General Gordon Square in Woolwich (all London), Tattershall Lakes Country Park (Lincolnshire), Latitude Festival (Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk), Old Eldon Square (Newcastle), Brighton Marina (Brighton), Bristol Millennium Square (Bristol), Sandy Balls Holiday Village (New Forest, Hampshire), Portsmouth Guildhall Square (Portsmouth), The Forum (Southend-on-Sea), Queens Drive (Exmouth), Swansea Castle Square (Swansea, Wales) and The Piazza, University of Warwick (Warwick).
