Category: 91Èȱ¬
Date: 03.06.2005
Printable version
This summer, people in Birmingham can enjoy live opera
and ballet relayed exclusively to 91Èȱ¬ city centre screens by the Royal
Opera House (ROH).
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The programme is a triple bill by the Royal Ballet on
Wednesday 8 June; the Royal Opera's Rigoletto on Tuesday 21 June; and
its La Boheme on Thursday 30 June.
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For the past 16 years, the ROH has screened live relays
to the Covent Garden piazza, reaching thousands of fans and passers-by.
More recently, it has taken these screens around the country.
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Now the ROH is working with the 91Èȱ¬ Big Screens
to reach a much wider audience - and Big Screen Birmingham in Chamberlain
Square is one of several venues involved around the UK.
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This free entertainment offers new audiences an introduction
to opera and ballet in relaxed surroundings, giving people the chance
to see some of the world's best performers in their own city.
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Bill Morris, Project Director, Live Events, 91Èȱ¬ Radio
and Music, says: "The 91Èȱ¬ is delighted to be able to use the growing
network of 'public space broadcasting' screens to allow more people
to enjoy world class opera and ballet from the Royal Opera House.
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"It is particularly exciting to be able to beam
such live performances right into the heart of cities around the UK,
like Birmingham, reaching audiences who might never attend the Royal
Opera House in person."
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Birmingham's Chamberlain Square is an ideal venue,
with the steps from Paradise Forum and the library doubling as seating
and making it a natural amphitheatre.
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Curtain up is at 7.20pm, while dance and music entertainment
starts at around 6.30pm on each of the three evenings.
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The full schedule
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Wednesday 8 June
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Live on stage and screen
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Compere - Jenny Jones
6.15pm: Centenary Brass (from the Birmingham
Conservatoire)
6.40pm: Film - Coloured Hymns, an exciting
fusion of improvised dance, poetry and architecture.
Dancers - Victoria Marr (Birmingham Royal Ballet); Delysia
Hart; Saranjit Birdi
Musician - Pauline Naughton.
6.50pm: Fusion dancing: a demonstration
of freestyle fusion dancing by Birmingham's fusion DJs, Bruce Q and
Gonzo.
Come and 'free up'!
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Live relay from ROH
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7.20pm: Royal Ballet's Triple Bill:
Stars of the Royal Ballet
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Tuesday 21 June
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Live on stage and screen
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Compere - Adrian Goldberg
6.25pm: The Joe Archer Experience (jazz)
7.00pm: The First Complaint Choir of
Birmingham (community choir)
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Live relay from ROH
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7.20pm: Rigoletto
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Thursday 30 June
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Live on stage and screen
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6.45pm: OperaMint (community opera
group)
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Live relay from ROH
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7.20pm: La Boheme
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Notes to Editors
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The 91Èȱ¬ Big Screens are part
of the public space broadcasting partnership project to animate city
centres across the UK with a mix of 91Èȱ¬ programming, local, non-commercial
film and videos, public service information and interactive content.
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The partners usually include the local city council,
a technology provider and a screen sponsor, all working with the 91Èȱ¬
in that region through a dedicated screen manager.
