Opera in two acts (2025) New Production! Palace Opera & Ballet is delighted to open the 2025-26 Cinema Season with Damiano Michieletto’s exceptional world premiere staging of the gripping new opera from Francesco Filidei- a co-commisson between La Scala and Opéra de Paris. Based on Umberto Eco’s award-winning medieval thriller, the story follows a 14th Century Franciscan friar William of Baskerville (Grammy Award-winning baritone Lucas Meachem) and his apprentice Adso (rising star mezzo soprano Kate Lindsay) as they investigate a series of mysterious deaths among the monks at a remote monastery, uncovering a labyrinthine library and a web of secrets. Immersive and texturally rich, Filedei’s composition is built on a symphonic base, layered with a series of arias and recitatives that transform traditional Gregorian chants. Leading the La Scala Orchestra and a chorus of more than 150 singers is Ingo Metzmacher.

Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn) is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind Prima Facie. Jessica Parks is a smart Crown Court Judge at the top of her career. Behind the robe, she is a karaoke fiend, loving wife and a supportive parent. When an event threatens to throw her life completely off balance, can she hold her family upright? Writer Suzie Miller and director Justin Martin reunite following their global phenomenon Prima Facie, with this searing examination of modern motherhood and masculinity.

Ballet in two acts (2015) New Production! Acclaimed Romanian choreographer Edward Clug's striking and poetic contemporary ballet, based on the classic Ibsen play of the same name, comes to La Scala for the first time. Follow the fantastical and tumultuous journey of the impulsive Peer (Australian rising star Navrin Turnbull), who abandons his humble origins in search of adventure and glory, his travels taking him through imaginative landscapes - from the mountains of Norway, through the kingdom of the trolls, to the deserts of North Africa – only to return to Solveig (Alice Mariani), whose enduring love offers him a chance at redemption and meaning. Featuring bold stage and costume design by Marko Japelij and Leo Kulaš, and set to Grieg’s evocative score, Clug’s irresistible mix of naturalism, realism and the absurd delivers true magic.

LES MISÉRABLES - THE STAGED CONCERT Seen by over 120 million people worldwide, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals. In 2019, Cameron Mackintosh produced a spectacular sell-out staged concert version at the Gielgud Theatre featuring an all-star cast including Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Matt Lucas and John Owen Jones. Now cinema audiences can experience a unique encore of this incredible show to celebrate Les Misérables 40th Anniversary. Featuring a cast and orchestra of over 65 and including the songs I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home, One Day More and On My Own this sensational staged concert is not to be missed.

A multidimensional journey into the heart of the Renaissance. The city that was once the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence and the Uffizi Gallery ensure a totally immersive and unique tour of the city that was the artistic home of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Brunelleschi and Botticelli. A stimulating 'emotional' commentary is given by a major, leading Renaissance figure, our guide Lorenzo the Magnificent, played by Simon Merrells. From a timeless limbo, he takes us through a tour of 'his' Florence, the cradle of Renaissance culture, all to the splendid accompaniment of carefully selected music. Also featured are valuable artistic contributions made by experts such as Antonio Natali, the Director of the Uffizi Gallery for almost 10 years; Marco Ciatti, Superintendent of the ‘Opificio delle Pietre Dure’ and Arturo Galansino, Director of Palazzo Strozzi.

Mitski: The Land converts the magic and majesty of witnessing Mitski live onto screen. Filmed over three nights at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre in 2024, this is a thrilling portrayal of what kept hundreds of thousands of fans rapt at venues across the globe. A phenomenal live performer, Mitski brought her acclaimed seventh album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, to the world’s stages in theatrical and daring fashion, presenting as much a spectacle as an expansive live show. Alongside a seven-piece band and with choreography by Monica Mirabile, Mitski uses every inch of the stage to her advantage, weaving in and out of the spotlight and shadows. Mitski: The Land captures an artist at the height of her musical powers, bringing a cinematic intimacy to the sweeping live experience, showcasing music from “The Land Is…” alongside reworkings and reimaginations of songs that color her expansive career. The starkness of the stage design (created by Andi Watson) evokes the album’s themes of isolation, longing, and the wild beauty of human connection, with visual elements that shift from a striking minimalism to a lush, dreamlike tableau. Directed by Grant James and mixed by her long-standing producer Patrick Hyland, Mitski: The Land preserves the rich, raw aura of having experienced these shows first-hand, whilst offering fans the opportunity to remember together or witness Mitski’s magic for the very first time.

Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic. Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune – but at what cost? Filmed live from the West End, this new production reunites Staunton with director Dominic Cooke (Follies, Good), exploring the clash between morality and independence, traditions and progress.

Opera in three acts (1900) New production! The splendour of Rome. The devastation of war. Puccini’s operatic thriller returns in an unmissable, gripping new production by Oliver Mears, the first to be conducted by Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša in his new role. Floria Tosca (star soprano Anna Netrebko) and Mario Cavaradossi (rising tenor Freddie De Tommaso) live for each other and for their art. But when Cavaradossi helps an escaped prisoner, the lovers make a deadly enemy in the form of Baron Scarpia (bass-baritone Gerald Finley), Chief of Police. At the mercy of Scarpia’s twisted desires, Tosca is forced to make a horrific bargain: sleeping with the man she hates in order to save the man she loves. Can she find a way out?

DEPECHE MODE: M is a cinematic journey into the heart of Mexican culture's relationship with death, framed by the iconic performances of Depeche Mode during their 2023 Memento Mori tour. Conceived and directed by award-winning Mexican filmmaker Fernando Frías, the film captures the band's three sold-out shows in Mexico City, attended by over 200,000 fans, blending concert footage with interpretive interstitials and archival material. DEPECHE MODE: M celebrates the band's global influence while delving into the profound connection between music, mortality, and Mexican tradition — a sacred meeting point where pain, memory, joy, and dance dissolve into one another, blurring into something profoundly and beautifully human.

Get ready for the ultimate rock experience as Bat Out of Hell roars onto the big screen this Halloween! The cast of the West End production will bring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s iconic anthems to life, including I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), Paradise By The Dashboard Light, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, Dead Ringer For Love, and, of course, Bat Out of Hell. Bat out of Hell -The Musical promises a spectacle that will leave you breathless! This heart-pounding experience, with a powerhouse eight-piece live band on stage, delivers a new production with sprawling multi-level platforms to transport you from Raven’s bedroom to the underground world of the Lost in a visual feast that pushes the boundaries of live theatre.

Mystery, intrigue, beauty, passion, murder – shine a new light on Caravaggio in this dramatic biography… Five years in production, this is the most extensive film ever made about one of the greatest artists of all time – Caravaggio. Featuring masterpiece after masterpiece and with first-hand testimony from the artist himself on the eve of his mysterious disappearance, this beautiful new film reveals Caravaggio as never before. Multi-award-winning filmmakers David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky delve into the hidden narratives of Caravaggio’s life, piecing together clues embedded within his incredible art. The intriguing self-depictions within his works — sometimes disguised, sometimes in plain sight — offer a rare window into his psyche and personal struggles. Join us as we unravel the story of one of history’s most brilliant, complex and controversial figures. Caravaggio’s masterpieces are some of art’s most instantly recognisable. No one else uses his signature blend of dramatic light, intense naturalism and bold, striking figures. His incredible paintings have captivated audiences for centuries. But there lies a deeper mystery — one that still beckons us to explore. What do these masterpieces reveal about the man behind the brush? Join us as we explore the intriguing clues that help us to finally understand the life – and death – of this remarkable man.

Ballet in two acts (1892) As the ultimate romantic ballet Giselle wows audiences in Paris with another sold-out run, here's a chance to revisit a classic performance. It begins like a fairy tale: Giselle, a sweet peasant girl falls in love with Albrecht, a young man who seems like a simple villager but is actually a duke. But he’s already promised to someone else, and when Giselle finds out, she loses her mind and dies. She is taken by the Wilis - ghosts of girls who were left by unfaithful loves. Will Giselle seek revenge by luring Albrecht to his death, or will love and forgiveness prevail? First performed in 1841 at the Royal Academy of Music, Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli’s ballet – here adapted by Patrice Bart and Eugène Polyakov – ushered in a new aesthetic in the history of Western dance. Pointe shoes, arabesques and long white tutus conjure up a fantastical, diaphanous universe that perfectly captures the spirit of Romanticism.

Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland. After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend. Finn den Hertog directs the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from @sohoplace on London’s West End.

Ballet in two acts (1960) 65 years after its premiere, The Royal Ballet invites you to (re)discover Frederick Ashton’s ballet of pure sunshine. Lise (Francesca Hayward), the only daughter of Widow Simone, is in love with the young farmer Colas (Marcelino Sambé), but her mother has far more ambitious plans for her. Simone hopes to marry her off to Alain, the son of the wealthy proprietor Thomas. Desperate to marry Colas rather than Alain, Lise contrives to outwit her mother’s plans. Whisking us away into pastoral bliss with Hérold’s cheerful score and Osbert Lancaster’s colourful designs, this affectionate portrayal of village life combines exuberant good humour and brilliantly inventive choreography in what is undoubtedly Ashton’s love letter to the English countryside.

Ballet in three acts (1948) Encore screenings! This enchanting ballet by The Royal Ballet’s Founding Choreographer Frederick Ashton is a theatrical experience for all the family that transports audiences into an ethereal world where a sprinkling of fairy dust makes dreams come true. Stuck at home and put to work by her spoiled Step-Sisters, life for Cinderella (Fumi Kaneko) is dreary and dull is dreary and dull. Everything changes when she helps a mysterious woman out...With a little bit of magic, she is transported into an ethereal new world – one where fairies bring the gifts of the seasons, where pumpkins turn into carriages, and where true love with the prince (William Bracewell) awaits.

A sparkling festive treat for the whole family, journey into a magical kingdom with a new performance of Peter Wright’s enchanting ballet production, screening direct from London.

Opera in four acts (1934) New Production! La Scala’s gala season opening is always a glittering affair, and one of the most significant productions of the year. This year, the company marks the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death, with a brand-new staging of his masterpiece, based on the novella by Nikolai Leskov. In the story, Katerina (American soprano Sara Jakubiak) the lonely young wife of a merchant begins a passionate affair with Sergey (acclaimed Uzbeki tenor Najmiddin Mavlyanov), one of his workers, commencing a cycle of violence that will lead her to ruin. Maestro Riccardo Chailly conducts one of 20th Century opera’s most powerful scores, celebrated for its raw emotional force, vivid orchestration, and unflinching portrayal of passion.

Opera in three acts (1853) Live and love, to the last breath. At one of her lavish parties, celebrated Parisan courtesan Violetta (Ermonela Jaho) is introduced to Alfredo Germont (Giovanni Sala). The two fall madly in love, and though hesitant to leave behind her life of luxury and freedom, Violetta follows her heart. But the young couple’s happiness is short-lived, as the harsh realities of life soon come knocking. As intimate as it is sumptuous, ‘La traviata’ features some of opera’s most famous melodies. In director Richard Eyre’s world of seductive grandeur, the tender and devastating beauty at the centre of Verdi’s opera shines bright.

Opera fantastique in four acts (1881) New Production! A top-flight cast features in acclaimed director Robert Carsen’s new staging of Mozart and Da Ponte’s brilliant and insightful comedy on love, fidelity and the fickleness of human behaviour. As part of a bet with Don Alfonso (Gerald Finley), Ferrando and Guglielmo (Giovanni Sala and Luca Micheletti) must try to woo each other’s fiancées’ Fiordiligi and Dorabella (Elsa Dreisig and Nina van Essen). Tackling Mozart’s beautiful and nuanced music is British conductor Alexander Soddy, much in demand at Covent Garden, the Metropolitan, and the Staatsoper of Vienna and Berlin.

Ballet in three acts (2015) Virginia Woolf defied literary conventions to depict rich inner worlds – her heightened, startling and poignant reality. Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor leads a luminous artistic team to evoke Woolf’s signature stream of consciousness writing style in this immense work that rejects traditional narrative structures, set to an original score by Max Richter. A collage of themes from ‘Mrs Dalloway’, ‘Orlando’, ‘The Waves’ and Woolf’s other writings, this Olivier-award winning ballet triptych captures the heart of Woolf’s uniquely artistic spirit.

Opéra-comique in three acts (1797) New Production! Join us for the first ever performance of Cherubini's masterpiece at the Naples Opera House, with celebrated soprano Sondra Radvanovsky singing the tour-de-force title role made famous by Maria Callas. The opera recounts the tragic tale of Medea, a mythic sorceress betrayed by her husband Jason (Francesco Meli), when he chooses to abandon her to marry Glauce (Désirée Giove), the princess of Corinth. Overcome with grief and fury, Medea will stop at nothing in her quest for vengeance… Staged by multi award-winning film and theatre director Mario Martone, with Riccardo Frizza on the podium.

Ballet in two acts (1841) The peasant girl Giselle has fallen in love with Albrecht. When she discovers that he is actually a nobleman promised to another, she kills herself in despair. Her spirit joins the Wilis: the vengeful ghosts of women hell-bent on killing any man who crosses their path in a dance to the death. Wracked with guilt, Albrecht visits Giselle’s grave, where he must face the Wilis – and Giselle’s ghost. Peter Wright’s atmospheric and bewitching 1985 production of this quintessential Romantic ballet is a classic of The Royal Ballet repertory. Set to Adolphe Adam’s evocative score and with atmospheric designs by John Macfarlane, ‘Giselle’ conjures up the earthly and otherworldly realms in a tale of love, betrayal and redemption.

Melodramma in three acts (1859) Screening direct from Paris, a new performance of Verdi’s lush and gripping drama. A masked ball may seem like the ultimate celebration, but its disguises can also foster intrigue. Both political and intimate, Verdi’s opera draws inspiration from the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden at a ball in 1792. Due to censorship, Verdi set the story in America, focusing on Riccardo (Matthew Polenzani), the governor of Boston, who is in love with Amelia (Anna Netrebko), the wife of his unforgiving best friend Renato (Ludovic Tézier). Blending lightness and seriousness, the opera was a huge success at its 1859 Rome premiere. Director Gilbert Deflo keeps the American setting but moves it to the time of Lincoln, all the better to confront the world of reason and morality with that of intuition and belief.

Opera in three acts (1857) New Production! Raised by a scheming dwarf and unaware of his true family origins, a young man embarks on an epic journey. Soon, destiny brings him face-to-face with a shattered sword, a fearsome dragon and the cursed ring it guards, and a Valkyrie forced into enchanted slumber... Moments of transcendent beauty and heroic triumph sparkle in the third chapter of Wagner’s Ring cycle, brought to life under Barrie Kosky’s inspired eye following his spectacular ‘Das Rheingold’ (2023) and ‘Die Walküre’ (2025). Andreas Schager, in his much-anticipated debut with The Royal Opera, stars as Siegfried, alongside Christopher Maltman’s towering Wanderer, Peter Hoare’s treacherous Mime and Elisabet Strid’s radiant Brünnhilde. Antonio Pappano conducts, drawing out the unspoken tensions and ethereal mysticism of Wagner’s dynamic score.

Ballet in three acts (1994) ‘What is love today?’ asked Angelin Preljocaj in 1994, when he created Le Parc for the Paris Opera Ballet. Thirty years later, his timeless, highly sensual creation has toured the world. Set in a French-style garden, the choreography evokes the seductive games of the Grand Siècle and Enlightenment, referencing Mozart and ‘Dangerous Liaisons’. Preljocaj breaks tradition with a modern soundtrack and a unique choreographic style. The final pas de deux, with its swirling, languorous kiss, has become the ballet’s signature moment.