Last year Glyndebourne became the first UK opera house to screen its productions in cinemas, and is delighted to announce the launch of a new season of highest-quality opera programming in cinemas. This marks a new partnership with London-based alternative content distributor, More2Screen.
This autumn Glyndebourne will extend its reach with a new international cinema programme to a minimum of 85 digital cinema screens globally distributed by More2Screen. International audiences will have the opportunity to experience Glyndebourne Opera in cinemas across the UK, Europe, North America and beyond.
From October Glyndebourne and More2Screen will bring a new series of three specially-selected operas, Hänsel und Gretel, La Cenerentola and Guilio Cesare, to cinema screens across international markets, all in High Definition and 5.1 sound.
Christine Costello, co-founder (with Penny Nagle) of More2Screen said:
"We’re delighted to be working with such a distinctive, creative and high-quality brand in the world of opera. Cinema audiences all over the world will be enthralled by the Glyndebourne experience, representing as it does the very best of the genre."
David Pickard General Director of Glyndebourne said:
"Glyndebourne is proud of the cinema screenings which took place with ODEON last year. Feedback and demand surpassed our expectations and this year we intend to go international and are aiming to have 85 screenings of Glyndebourne operas across the globe. This new partnership with More2Screen emphasises Glyndebourne’s commitment to making our operas available to the widest possible audience, in an annual global cinema release programme."
Glyndebourne’s digital ambitions will allow a global audience to enjoy the musical standards that are the foundation of Glyndebourne’s work. Audience feedback in 2007 showed that both traditional opera-goers and new-comers to opera attended the cinema screenings. Glyndebourne is committed to keeping cinema ticket prices between £10 and £15, seeing this pricing as an important element in developing a new audience for opera.
Glyndebourne and More2Screen will announce the cinemas involved in the global cinema release programme over the coming months.
20th June 2008 - ends -
- Notes to editors -
About Glyndebourne:
The internationally renowned Glyndebourne Festival was founded in 1934 by John Christie and his wife, Audrey Mildmay; their grandson Gus is now Executive Chairman with David Pickard the General Director. Carl Ebert was the first Artistic Director and Fritz Busch Music Director. Vladimir Jurowski is the current Music Director. The Festival repertoire has expanded to include operas from the baroque to the contemporary, including seven of Glyndebourne’s own commissions and 13 British premieres. The opera house itself was rebuilt in 1994 and now seats 1,200. Glyndebourne on Tour was founded in 1968 taking productions to a wider audience and offering increased performance opportunities to young singers. Additionally, Glyndebourne’s Education department has an enormous commitment to new opera and community projects; it currently hosts over 230 different activities each year. With 124 opera performances annually reaching over 140,000 people, Glyndebourne’s continued employment of inspirational directors and performers, and the ongoing drive to commission new work, now goes hand in hand with digital innovations to reach new audiences.
For Glyndebourne information please contact:
Emma Menniss - Press and PR Manager
E: T: +44 (0)1273 812321
About More2Screen:
More2Screen is dedicated to sourcing and distributing alternative content programming for screening in digitally equipped cinemas and at big screen venues worldwide. Programme content includes pre recorded and Live music concerts, music documentaries, sporting events and educational features. Co-founders Christine Costello, former CEO of Pearl & Dean cinema advertising, and Penny Nagle, former MD of igig.tv, have over eight years experience in releasing alternative content into cinemas in the UK and Europe (including the first-ever live high definition broadcast of a music concert in Europe, Robbie Williams live in Berlin, into 11 markets in 2005). Independent operators with strong and established exhibitor relationships in the UK and internationally, their clients and projects include: Universal Music Group, Sony BMG and EMI with artists ranging from Sigur Ros, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Kylie and UB40. Robbie Williams and Led Zeppelin theatrical releases delivered the highest and second highest selling music DVDs in the UK ever in 2004 and 2005.
For More2screen information please contact:
E: M: +44(0)7768 832 954
E: M: +44(0)7803 970 147