Jonas Kaufmann documentary, Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, the first Live from Covent Garden concert and Szymanowski’s King Roger

The Royal Opera House is delighted to present the latest instalment of its #OurHouseToYourHouse programme, featuring free online broadcasts, musical masterclasses and cultural highlights that can be accessed by audiences for free anywhere, anytime.

Join us on Facebook and YouTube next Wednesday 10 June at 5pm BST for a special In Conversation programme featuring star tenor Jonas Kaufmann and Music Director of The Royal Opera Antonio Pappano. The 40-minute programme will see the duo discuss the most difficult tenor roles as well as Kaufmann’s career highlights from 14 years of acclaimed performances on the Covent Garden stage.

We look forward to the next in our series of free online broadcasts, with the YouTube and Facebook premiere of Frederick Ashton’s exuberant La Fille mal gardée (The Wayward Daughter) on Friday 12 June at 7pm BST. This classic ballet, featuring both dancing chickens and a Lancashire clog dance, showcases Ashton’s signature choreographic style from energetic pas de deux to elements of national folk dance.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, La Fille mal gardée tells the story of Widow Simone and her daughter Lise who is in love with Colas, a young farmer. In this 2005 recording, the role of Lise is danced by Marianela Nuñez, Colas by Carlos Acosta and Widow Simone by William Tuckett. The joyous and colourful production features an arrangement of Ferdinand Hérold’s music by John Lanchbery and designs by Osbert Lancaster. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by Anthony Twiner.

Ahead of Friday’s broadcast, Marianela Nuñez will share her lockdown essentials playlist (Wednesday 10 June) and take over the ROH’s Instagram channel (Thursday 11 June).

Join us live on YouTube and Facebook next Saturday 13 June at 7.30pm BST as we open our theatre to a select group of musicians, artists and performers for the first concert in our Live from Covent Garden series, marking the first live performance at the Royal Opera House since we closed our doors on 17 March. Hosted by the BBC’s Anita Rani and Music Director of The Royal Opera Antonio Pappano, the concert will include work from Benjamin Britten, George Frideric Handel, George Butterworth and Mark-Anthony Turnage with performances from Louise Alder, Toby Spence and Gerald Finley. Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet Wayne McGregor will present a world premiere, with further details to be announced.

The Royal Opera House’s Create and Learn series continues to offer free resources for families across the globe to explore the magical world of theatre from home. This week our virtual classroom invites children and young people to create their own Serene Swan Headdress using simple household items as part of the Heroes and Villains activity. The task is inspired by Swan Lake, one of the world’s most famous ballets, which is frequently performed by The Royal Ballet on stage in Covent Garden. Watch the trailer to find out how to make your headdress.

Royal Opera House content continues to be available as part of our ongoing partnership with the BBC. On Saturday 13 June at 6.30pm, BBC Radio 3 will broadcast The Royal Opera’s performance of Szymanowski’s King Roger (2015) with Mariusz Kwiecień in the title role, conducted by Antonio Pappano. Also currently available on BBC Sounds is The Royal Opera’s performance of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (2016) starring Diana Damrau.

Available on BBC iPlayer are Men at the Barre – Inside The Royal Ballet and Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words. Men at the Barre is a new behind-the-scenes documentary by Director Richard Macer, which showcases the athleticism and lyricism of The Royal Ballet’s male dancers and offers a unique insight into the life of a dancer. Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words is a creative reimagining of Kenneth MacMillan’s seminal ballet, featuring Royal Ballet dancers, and is directed by multiple award-winning Michael Nunn and William Trevitt of BalletBoyz.

For details of all ROH broadcasts, creative activities and unique content, follow #OurHouseToYourHouse.