Performances from some of the world’s most prestigious theatres and opera houses – amongst them the Palais Garnier in Paris, the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, and the Gran Teatro del Liceu in Barcelona – are captured in High Definition, making it possible for local viewers to experience the best that opera and ballet have to offer internationally, on the big screen.

Kicking off this cinematic opera season in October, will be the highly anticipated revival of Richard Eyre’s acclaimed production of Verdi’s La Traviata, starring American diva Renée Fleming. Conducted by Musical Director Antonio Pappano and described as a ‘visual feast’, La Traviata was filmed live at Covent Garden in June this year, with tenor Joseph Calleja and baritone Thomas Hampson featuring alongside Fleming.

First performed at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice in 1853, the tale of the beautiful Parisian courtesan Violetta’s ill-fated love for Alfredo Germont has become one of Verdi’s most popular works. In their survey of reviews for La Traviata, Musicalcriticism.com concluded that ‘the interpreters of this Traviata have achieved something rare: engaging with the work in a deeply nuanced manner, both in the drama and in the music, they have imbued Verdi’s piece with an exceptional richness of meaning’.

La Traviata will be followed in November by Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, with two of opera’s current leading lights performing at Teatro Real, Madrid. Maria Bayo appears as Rosina; while Juan Diego Florez – described as ‘dazzlingly virtuosic’ by the Sunday Times – stars as her suitor, the handsome count Almaviva. The Barber of Seville also stars Pietro Spagnoli as Figaro, Bruno Practico as Don Bartolo, and the renowned Ruggero Raimondi as singing teacher Basilio.

An elegant silver and white beginning leads to a ‘dazzlingly colourful closing scene [that] is a true masterstroke’, according to Classical Net Review, creating a whole ‘overflowing with a mischievous joy for life that is infectious!’

‘Quite simply… wonderful!’ was Musicalcriticism.com’s verdict on Richard Jones’ production of Falstaff - ‘a subtly comic, effervescent reading of the opera that gets everything right, from the post-war period detail of the costumes and stage settings to the characterisation, dramatic and musical, of all the lead roles’.

Filmed before a live audience at this year’s Glyndebourne Opera Festival, it stars British Baritone Christopher Purves in the title role. This will be the second of Verdi’s masterpieces to appear in Nu Metro’s operatic season, in which the amorous escapades of Shakespeare’s fat and cowardly knight lead him into trouble and outrage the inhabitants of Windsor. This production will hit Nu Metro’s screens by the end of November.

Finally, Nu Metro will usher in the festive season with the Christmas favourite, The Nutcracker. According to Mark Harris, Content and Marketing Head for Nu Metro Cinemas, this ‘will be the first ballet to be presented on cinema screens in South Africa’.

This cinematic feast of opera and ballet will begin on the 9^th of October, and will appear at Nu Metro Cinemas in Montecasino, Bedfordview, Hyde Park, Menlyn Park, Pavilion, V&A Waterfront and Canal Walk. Additional productions are due to grace the screen in 2010, allowing South Africans further opportunities to delight in a plethora of dazzling international talent.