Summer Series 2009

RENˆâE FLEMING STARS IN DIGISCREEN’ÄôS SUMMER CINEMA SERIES WITH OPUS ARTE’ÄôS LA TRAVIATA, FROM THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

The much-anticipated performance of opera’Äôs megastar Renˆ©e Fleming at Covent Garden is one of the many highlights of DigiScreen’Äôs Summer Opera/Ballet/Concert Cinema Series, which will screen at selected theatres throughout Canada in July and August. Theatres will present an opera, a ballet and a classical music concert from the great stages of London, England.

The summer series opens on July 25^th & 26th, when cinema audiences have the pleasure of experiencing, for the first time in Canada, the excitement of the BBC’Äôs LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS from The Royal Albert Hall in London.

On August 15th, Shakespeare meets Mendelssohn meets Balanchine at Sadler’Äôs Wells for the enchanting ballet A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’ÄôS DREAM.

Saturday August 29th and August July 30th will be ’ÄúDon’Äôt miss Renˆ©e Fleming at Covent Garden!’Äù days.

On Saturday July 25^th and 26^th, DigiScreen and the BBC present a first: Canadian audiences will finally experience the exuberance of LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS. The Proms at The Royal Albert Hall has a special place in the hearts of British people and all fans of classical music around the world. The September feast of music is the highlight of the symphonic season, which culminates with the hottest concert ticket in London, LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS! Lucky audiences are treated to the works of leading international artists and an all-embracing classical music programme, introducing new works alongside much-loved classics. Sir Roger Norrington makes his first ’ÄúLast Night’Äù appearance leading an all-star dazzling final concert.

On Saturday August 15th, select theatres across Canada will present the enchanting ballet A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’ÄôS DREAM. Choreographed by an artistic genius, George Balanchine and performed by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Shakespeare’Äôs comedy of magic and love’Äôs delusions set to the music of Felix Mendelssohn is a guaranteed audience pleaser. The Pacific Northwest Ballet displays all the vitality, brilliance and versatility of its wonderful dancers in this award’Äìwinning production of Balanchine’Äôs first original full-length ballet. Balanchine’Äôs pure dance magic, Shakespeare’Äôs stage wizardry and Mendelssohn’Äôs bewitching tunefulness make for a special experience.

For two presentations only in August (29^th and 30^th), cinema audiences will be able to enjoy beloved American soprano Renˆ©e Fleming on London’Äôs Covent Garden stage starring in The Royal Opera’Äôs production of Verdi’Äôs best-loved work LA TRAVIATA. Captured live by Opus Arte in London on June 30^th, audiences will see her performance replayed in select theatres throughout Canada. Richard Eyre’Äôs 2009 production is a revival of his highly acclaimed 1994 staging which dazzled audiences with its striking visual feast. Renˆ©e Fleming and company soar with some of the most poignantly tuneful music in all of opera.

Tickets are available at $19.95 + tax per adult, $16.95 + tax per senior and $9.95 + tax per child. For cinema locations and to purchase advance tickets throughout Canada visit www.empiretheatres.com/opusarte. For Landmark Cinemas in Alberta and BC, go to www.landmarkcinemas.com. For independent theatres in Vancouver and Waterloo, please visit www.festivalcinemas.ca, www.princesscinemas.com

About DigiScreen Corporation

DigiScreen is a digital network for the distribution and presentation of independent film and alternative content. DigiScreen launched the network in 2007 with an exclusive collaboration with Opus Arte and the Royal Opera House in London. Thanks to this collaboration, the company is able to showcase the world’Äôs most prestigious contemporary performing arts companies in an ongoing series of spectacular operas and ballets. These productions are captured live, in High Definition, from locations such as Covent Garden (London), Palais Garnier (Paris), Teatro Real (Madrid), Liceu (Barcelona), War Memorial (San Francisco) and other great stages of the world. DigiScreen Corporation, in partnership with Opus Arte, releases 16-20 HD productions throughout the year. These HD productions are presented exclusively by DigiScreen and its partners to audiences in more than 300 cinemas across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and Australia. Presentations in South Africa and other territories will be starting shortly.

For photos, more information or to find a participating theatre near you, please visit www.digiscreen.ca or contact Blair Haynes, bhaynes@digiscreen.ca 514-847-3537 ext 4520

About The Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House is the home of three world class performing companies - The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, and The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. It is a focal point for England’Äôs national and international artistic excellence, where the evolving traditions of opera and ballet are taken to the highest levels. It is a shining symbol of excellence without compromise since 1732.

About Opus Arte

Opus Arte, owned by the Royal Opera House, has been recording in High Definition for the past decade and has amassed a substantial catalogue of outstanding productions from around the world. Opus Arte led the way by being the first company to release a Classical HD-DVD, and also the first to release a Classical Blu-ray disc into the world market. Working closely with top organizations such as the BBC and TVE, Opus Arte has enabled a large number of people to share the magic of seeing an opera or ballet from the world’Äôs top opera houses.

About BBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’Äôs assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven core businesses: BBC Worldwide Channels, BBC Worldwide Content & Production, BBC Worldwide Digital Media, BBC Worldwide Global Brands, BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution, BBC Magazines and BBC Home Entertainment. In 2007/08, BBC Worldwide generated profits of ¬£117.7million on sales of ¬£916.3million.

For more about The Pacific Northwest Ballet, please go to: www.pnb.org

For more about The Royal Opera House, please go to: www.roh.org.uk

For more about Opus Arte, please go to: www.opusarte.co.uk

Bravo! is the proud television sponsor for the DigiScreen’Äôs Summer Cinema Series. For more information on Bravo! please visit www.bravo.ca