The Royal Ballet and Opera and The Metropolitan Opera are joining forces for their cinema seasons.

The collaboration will increase each company’s reach to hundreds more cinemas in new markets. RBO’s cinema partner, Trafalgar Releasing, will broadcast The Met’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” to a larger number of screens in the UK. Fathom, the Met Opera’s cinema partner in the U.S., will broadcast The Royal Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” Both productions will be broadcast to more than 500 cinemas.

In a statement Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera said, “We’re absolutely delighted to be working with The Metropolitan Opera to improve access to some of the world’s best ballet and opera. This first of its kind partnership will unlock audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, so even more people can enjoy performances from our world-class Companies in their own hometowns.”

Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera added, “This partnership will result in more opera lovers in the UK enjoying the Met and more ballet lovers in the US enjoying The Royal Ballet, a positive development for both of our companies.”

“The Nutcracker” will be presented on Dec. 22 and 23, 2024 featuring soloists Sophie Allnatt as Clara and Leo Dixon as her enchanted Nutcracker as well as Royal Ballet Principal dancers Anna Rose O’Sullivan and Marcelino Sambé.

“Il Barbiere di Siviglia” will be showcased on June 3, 2025 and will feature Aigul Akhmetshina (Rosina), Jack Swanson (Count Almaviva) in his Met debut, Andrey Zhilikhovsky (Figaro), Peter Kálmán (Dr. Bartolo) and Alexander Vinogradov (Don Basilio), all under the baton of Giacomo Sagripanti.