Royal Opera House Productions: 8 April – 8 May 2019

Main Stage

La forza del destino, selected dates to Monday 22 April 2019

Christof Loy directs a star-studded cast of singers, including Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tézier, in Verdi's epic opera, conducted by Antonio Pappano.

https://www.roh.org.uk/productions/la-forza-del-destino-by-christof-loy-

Images available here: https://we.tl/t-60keOi8O4w

Romeo and Juliet, selected dates to Tuesday 11 June 2019

Kenneth MacMillan’s acclaimed production returns to the Royal Opera House, with music by Sergey Prokofiev and a number of exciting debuts from across The Royal Ballet. Also available in cinemas and free around the UK on the BP Big Screens on Tuesday 11 June, with an encore cinema screening on Sunday 15 June.

https://www.roh.org.uk/productions/romeo-and-juliet-by-kenneth-macmillan

Images available here: https://we.tl/t-UG1v4c10xF

Faust, Thursday 11 April – Monday 6 May 2019

Gounod's most popular opera returns in David McVicar's stunning Parisian production, with singers including Michael Fabiano, Diana Damrau and Erwin Schrott. Also available in cinemas on Tuesday 30 April with an encore screening on Sunday 5 May.

https://www.roh.org.uk/productions/faust-by-david-mcvicar

Images available here: https://we.tl/t-C3siX9Rpw1

Billy Budd, Tuesday 23 April – Friday 10 May 2019

Deborah Warner stages the first production of Britten's all-male opera at Covent Garden for nearly two decades, with Jacques Imbrailo, Toby Spence and Brindley Sherratt in the lead roles.

https://www.roh.org.uk/productions/billy-budd-by-deborah-warner

Images available here: https://we.tl/t-9IVpC9UJSY

Within the Golden Hour/ Medusa / Flight Pattern

A contemporary triple bill showcases revivals of works by Christopher Wheeldon and Crystal Pite, alongside the world premiere of Medusa by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

https://www.roh.org.uk/mixed-programmes/within-the-golden-hour-new-sidi-larbi-cherkaoui-flight-pattern

Images available here: https://we.tl/t-rdmSsTTbFl

Linbury Theatre

Juliet and Romeo, Saturday 13 April – Sunday 14 April 2019

Through dance, theatre and comedy, innovative theatre company Lost Dog tell the story of Shakespeare’s young lovers – if they hadn’t died in a tragic misunderstanding but lived not-so-happily ever after.

https://www.roh.org.uk/productions/juliet-and-romeo-by-ben-duke

Images available here: https://we.tl/t-q7kSy5uCh7

A Man of Good Hope, Tuesday 16 April – Saturday 4 May 2019

The true story of a young refugee’s journey through Africa told through music, singing and dance, based on the book by Jonny Steinberg. Performed by Isango Ensemble.

https://www.roh.org.uk/productions/a-man-of-good-hope-by-mark-dornford-may

Images available here: https://we.tl/t-CxNODe0hOR

SS Mendi: Dancing the Drill of Death, Thursday 18 April – Saturday 4 May 2019

Award-winning South African lyric theatre company Isango Ensemble re-tell the story of a real-life, tragic maritime disaster, based on the book by Fred Khumalo.

https://www.roh.org.uk/productions/ss-mendi-dancing-the-death-drill-by-mark-dornford-may

Friday Rush
Friday Rush is a great way to get last-minute tickets for the Royal Opera House at a range of prices - even for sold-out shows. At 1pm every Friday, 49 Friday Rush tickets for almost all main stage shows performed by The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet in the following week are available to purchase online: https://www.roh.org.uk/events/friday-rush

Free culture on your doorstep in London - enjoy the best of British culture, free this summer

Everyone in London can enjoy free culture on their doorstep when the Royal Opera HouseBP Big Screens are hosted at 24 key locations across the UK this summer including at Trafalgar Square, Lyric Square in Hammersmith, The Scoop at London Bridge City, Television Centre White City, Arena Square Wembley Park and General Gordon Square in Woolwich.  

Bring a picnic and your friends and family to see beloved classics: Romeo and Juliet (11 June), Carmen (2 July) and The Marriage of Figaro (9 July) as they are live-broadcast. Other sites in the UK include Aberdeen’s Duthie Park, Castle Square in Swansea, Walton Halls and Gardens in Warrington and all the way down to Bembridge in the Isle of Wight.

On 11 June, the first 2019 BP Big Screen is live from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Kenneth MacMillan’s celebrated ballet Romeo and Juliet movingly depicts the love and heart-break endured by literature’s most renowned couple. On July 2, award-winning director Barrie Kosky’s exuberant take on Bizet’s Carmen will be screened. With cabaret ensemble numbers and high-kicking dancers, this production is a beloved masterpiece. On July 9, the Royal Opera’s The Marriage of Figaro is screened. Mozart’s greatest comedy is given a sumptuous staging by David McVicar, its stunning score is fast-moving in this hilarious production with ravishing duets and emotionally potent arias.

Gok Wan, who will present the BP Big Screens in July said: 

“As a huge opera and ballet fan, I love the BP Big Screens. As a child I would have loved watching opera for free with my friends! It’s fantastic that 24 sites across the UK become opera houses or ballet stages for the night and share in the magical performances live from London’s Covent Garden. Outdoor cinema is now one of the nation’s favourite summer pastimes and each summer the Royal Opera House BP Big Screens give everyone access to free culture on their doorstep, a great experience for free!”

Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, commented:

“The BP Big Screens are a much-loved highlight of the summer calendar across the UK, and I am delighted that we once again beam the best the Royal Opera House has to offer to an ever-wider audience. Over the years, our collaboration with BP has enabled more than half a million people to experience ballet and opera – many for the first time – and together we bring this summer highlight to people all over the UK.”

Des Violaris, Director – UK Arts and Culture at BP said:

“Each summer we look forward to the BP Big Screens and taking free culture to people all over the country. This year we screen live world-class opera and ballet from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight and build on over 30 years of partnership work between BP and the Royal Opera House”

The first Royal Opera House BP Big Screens was in 1987 showing free ballet and opera to audiences across the UK. In 2018, 41,500 people saw a free opera or ballet performance at one of 40 screenings in 20 different locations.

The Marriage of Figaro will also be live streamed on the Royal Opera House’s Facebook, YouTube and OperaVision.

Share on social using @royaloperahouse and #ROHromeo, #ROHcarmen and #ROHfigaro.

The Royal Opera House BP Big Screen locations in London:

Romeo and Juliet, 11 June 2019: Trafalgar Square (London); Television Centre, White City (London); Arena Square Wembley Park (London); General Gordon Square, Woolwich (London)

Carmen, 2 July 2019: Trafalgar Square (London); Lyric Square, Hammersmith (London); Television Centre, White City (London); Arena Square Wembley Park (London); General Gordon Square, Woolwich (London)

The Marriage of Figaro, 9 July 2019: Trafalgar Square (London); Lyric Square, Hammersmith (London); The Scoop at London Bridge City (London); Television Centre, White City (London); Arena Square Wembley Park (London); General Gordon Square, Woolwich (London)

All the Royal Opera House BP Big Screens are rated 12A.