For the first time, the Royal Ballet and Opera and The Metropolitan Opera are joining forces for their cinema seasons on their respective home turfs, giving more audiences in both the UK and US the opportunity to see much loved opera and ballet productions from each world-leading company.
The first-of-its kind collaboration will increase the reach of each company to hundreds more cinemas in new markets. As a result of this partnership, RBO’s cinema partner Trafalgar Releasing will broadcast The Met’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia to a larger number of screens in the UK than are currently carrying the Met, while Fathom, the Met Opera’s cinema partner in the U.S., will broadcast The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Both productions will be broadcast to more than 500 cinemas.
Over the holidays, US audiences will be enchanted by The Royal Ballet’s festive classic, The Nutcracker. Created by Peter Wright in 1984, this much-loved production was recorded in 2023 and will be screened in US cinemas, just in time for Christmas, on 22 and 23 December 2024. The cast includes Royal Ballet Soloists Sophie Allnatt as Clara and Leo Dixon as her enchanted Nutcracker. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince are performed by Royal Ballet Principal dancers Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Marcelino Sambé.
On Tuesday 3 June 2025, UK audiences will be transported to the sun-drenched streets of 18-century Seville as Bartlett Sher’s witty production of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia comes to the big screen. The Met Opera’s stellar cast features former Royal Opera Jette Parker Young Artist, Aigul Akhmetshina (Rosina), Jack Swanson (Count Almaviva) in his Met debut, Andrey Zhilikhovsky (Figaro), Peter Kálmán (Dr. Bartolo) and Alexander Vinogradov (Don Basilio), all under the baton of Giacomo Sagripanti.
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be working with The Metropolitan Opera to improve access to some of the world’s best ballet and opera. This first of its kind partnership will unlock audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, so even more people can enjoy performances from our world-class Companies in their own hometowns.”
Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera said:
“This partnership will result in more opera lovers in the UK enjoying the Met and more ballet lovers in the US enjoying The Royal Ballet, a positive development for both of our companies.”
Sophie Allnatt (Clara) and Leo Dixon (Hans Peter) in the Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Photo: Alice Pennefather
The Nutcracker | The Royal Ballet
In cinemas Sunday 22 and Monday 23 December 2024
The cinema production lasts approximately 165 minutes, with one interval
Choreography Peter Wright after Lev Ivanov
Music Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Scenario Marius Petipa after E.T.A. Hoffmann
Designer Julia Trevelyan Oman
Lighting Designer Mark Henderson
Production Consultant Roland John Whiley
The Sugar Plum Fairy Anna Rose O’Sullivan
The Prince Marcelino Sambé
Herr Drosselmeyer Thomas Whitehead
Clara Sophie Allnatt
Hans-Peter/The Nutcracker Leo Dixon
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Generous philanthropic support from Yleana Arce Foundation, Kenneth and Susan Green, Sandra and Anthony Gutman and Lindsay and Sarah Tomlinson
A scene from Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Photo: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera
Il Barbiere di Siviglia | The Metropolitan Opera
In cinemas Tuesday 3 June 2025
The cinema production lasts approximately 215 minutes, with one interval
Music Gioachino Rossini
Conductor Giacomo Sagripanti
Director Bartlett Sher
Set Designer Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind
Rosina Aigul Akhmetshina
Count Almaviva Jack Swanson
Figaro Andrey Zhilikhovsky
Dr Bartolo Peter Kálmán
Don Basilio Alexander Vinogradov
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Orchestra of The Metropolitan Opera
About the Royal Ballet and Opera
At the Royal Ballet and Opera, we are making the extraordinary for everyone. Inspiring imagination and igniting emotion. We are a cultural powerhouse, bringing together two world-class performing companies in one of the UK’s leading arts institutions. Based at the Royal Opera House in the heart of London’s Covent Garden, our work is enjoyed by audiences in our two theatres and globally through our streaming platform, cinema Season and company tours.
Our work in schools and communities up and down the country is driven by our curriculum linked programmes, specially designed to inspire creativity, broaden participation and diversify the future of opera and ballet. These sit alongside industry-leading talent development projects, regional partnerships, and a raft of daytime events, family activities, tours, exhibitions and concerts in our Covent Garden home. We are also expanding our audience through our flagship Young ROH scheme and are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2035.
About the Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera has launched many initiatives designed to make opera more accessible, most prominently the Live in HD series of cinema transmissions—now in its 18th season—which dramatically expands the Met audience by allowing select performances to be seen in more than 60 countries around the world. The Met is one of America’s leading performing arts organizations and a vibrant home for the world’s most creative and talented artists, including singers, conductors, composers, orchestra musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers. The company presents approximately 200 performances each season of a wide variety of operas, ranging from early masterpieces to contemporary works.
Visit rbo.org.uk and metopera.org to find a local cinema screening
