Audiences interested in trying opera or ballet for the first time are being offered the extra incentive of reduced price tickets through a partnership between the Royal Opera House, newspaper The Sun and The Helen Hamlyn Trust.
Two special Paul Hamlyn First Nights will be held from Bizet’s opera Carmen (3 October) and Kenneth MacMillan’s dark ballet Mayerling (7 October) in the autumn, for which tickets will be made available for between £7.50 and £30.
Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, commented: “Last year’s Paul Hamlyn First Night was an extraordinary experience, I think for everyone, and I’m delighted that we’re now able to open up two performances to completely new audiences thanks to the ongoing generosity from Lady Hamlyn and the Helen Hamlyn Trust, together with support from The Sun.
“Both Carmen and Mayerling are wonderful theatrical works that I think will excite people who may be seeing opera or ballet for the first time. Carmen with its instantly recognisable score is filled with passion and heat and Mayerling is a dark chilling ballet that will change people’s perception of ballet forever; both are guaranteed to captivate newcomers.”
The Sun’s Gordon Smart added: “Last year over 2,000 Sun readers enjoyed a night out at the opera thanks to this brilliant partnership with the Royal Opera House. Whilst many people were surprised by the collaboration, our readers told us that they loved the experience and couldn’t wait to do it again. That’s why this autumn we’re giving readers yet more chances to see world class performances at unbeatable prices.”
The Paul Hamlyn First Nights are one of a number of schemes employed by the Royal Opera House to encourage as many people as possible to experience opera and ballet. Among the others are the screening of events, which have allowed 40,000 people in the UK to enjoy productions via the BP Summer Big Screens and 150,000 fans worldwide to watch in cinemas, student standby tickets, family performances and schools’ matinees.
Information about how to apply for ticket to the Paul Hamlyn First Nights will be published in The Sun later in the summer.
MA