Opera comes to Dover's Market Square
13:52, 02 June 2010
updated: 17:22, 19 April 2022
Have you ever wanted to sing in an opera? Your dream could come true on Tuesday June 8 when people can go along to Dover’s Market Square to be part of one of the biggest opera sing-alongs the Royal Opera House has ever conducted.
At 6.45pm Gareth Malone from the BBC’s The Choir will lead the Carmen sing-along live from Trafalgar Square in London.
People at 14 big screen sites across the UK, including Dover, can sing The Toreador Song from Carmen.
A free copy of the words can be downloaded at www.roh.org.uk/about/bp-big-screens so that people can learn the French or English version ahead of the sing-along.
At 7pm, the Royal Opera’s performance of Bizet’s Carmen will be beamed live from Covent Garden to the screen.
The opera is packed with Spanish heat, gypsy passion and some of the most loved and memorable opera music.
In this vivid production by Francesca Zambello, Seville is brought to life with soldiers, peasants, gypsies and bullfighters – not forgetting a magnificent horse and some chickens! It will be conducted by Constantinos Carydis with Christine Rice as the deadly passionate Carmen and Bryan Hymel as Don José.
Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, said: "The fact that we’re able to relay live opera performances from Covent Garden to these big screens across the country is really exciting and, even better, it’s all completely free for audiences.
"I think this gives family and friends a great opportunity to get together outdoors this summer and to experience these world-class performances. I love the unique atmosphere created in each venue – there’s such an expectant air with hugely enthusiastic crowds."