'Lucrezia Borgia' becomes first live opera broadcast in 3D

Creative new concepts are coming about in the world of arts, as today marks the day in which Sky and the English National Opera collaborate to produce the first ever live opera in 3D.

Donizetti’s opera, described as a ‘dark’ and ‘psychologically profound’, based on Victor Hugo’s tale of incest, murder and rape in the Renaissance Italian Borgia family is directed by Mike Figgis. The stage production has been running since Jan 31 at London’s Coliseum theatre, starring Claire Rutter as Lucrezia Borgia and Michael Fabbiano as Gennaro.

Today marks the day in which they broadcast the dramatic opera through way of a ‘quadcast’ – being the first of its kind, showing it through four media types at the same time. It will be shown on Sky 3D, broadcast live on the Sky Arts 2 channel in high definition and into fifteen select cinemas in 3D across the UK, including London Piccadilly’s Apollo cinema and Odeon cinema’s in Bath, Brighton and Manchester. It will also be relayed in 2D to other cinemas.

Extra features of seeing the opera broadcast in this way will give the audience the opportunity to see a special insider’s edition which includes cast interviews and the Oscar nominated director Figgis at work.

The opera itself has been highly rated, as English newspaper The Guardian describes Rutter and Fabiano as “fabulous”, with Rutter in her portrayal of Lucrezia “hurling out coloratura like spattered drops of venom,” and Fabiano as Gennaro, “holding an exquisite sense of line”.

When interviewed by Reuters on his opinion about the opera being broadcast live on television and in cinemas, Fabiano mentioned that "everyone when they watch television wants to see moments when people are on the edge and how they handle it," further adding that "that's live theatre, that's what these reality television shows are all about too, and so I think it's great."

Conducted by Paul Daniel and starring Claire Rutter, Michael Fabiano, Alastair Miles and Elizabeth DeShong, the show goes live at 19.30GMT in London.