Scandalous Fare "...immorality....obscene...": Emerging Pictures Presents London's Royal Opera House LIVE in HD Production of "Rigoletto" in Movie Theaters Nationwide on Tuesday, April 17

Scandalous Fare "...immorality....obscene...": Emerging Pictures Presents London's Royal Opera House LIVE in HD Production of "Rigoletto" in Movie Theaters Nationwide on Tuesday, April 17

NEW YORK, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The censors denounced it for "repulsive immorality and obscene triviality." But then, that was Venice in 1851. Tastes and tolerance levels may have changed, but the sexiness, murderous conniving and dark manipulation found in the plot of Verdi's masterpiece "Rigoletto" hasn't.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120319/NY72677LOGO)

Through its Opera in Cinema series, Emerging Pictures will bring the performance of David McVicar's "Rigoletto" to the big screen LIVE in HD from London's Royal Opera House on Tuesday, April 17th, at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern).

The role of "Rigoletto" will be performed by Dimitri Platanias, "Gilda" by Ekaterina Siurina and the "Duke of Mantua" by Vittorio Grigolo; music is performed by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.

The live performance will be seen simultaneously in nearly 150 of Emerging's network of 300 theaters; the others theaters in the network will show the performance "captured live" in the weeks following the live performance.

Participating theaters (www.operaincinema.com) and tickets are available at theater box offices and online at http://www.emergingcinemas.com/titles/rigoletto-royal-opera-house/

The opera tells the story of Rigoletto, a deformed and ridiculed court jester who aids and abets his master, the Duke of Mantua, in the seduction of young innocent women. After mocking the husbands and fathers of the Duke's victims, Rigoletto finds the tables turned on him when the Duke seduces Rigoletto's own daughter, Gilda. Driven mad with despair and filled with hateful vengeance, Rigoletto finds the tables turned yet again and an already dark tale becomes even more tragically and murderously dark before the final curtain falls.

First performed at Venice's world renowned La Fenice opera house in 1851, "Rigoletto" is considered by many to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi's middle-to-late career. With its offstage rape, onstage murder and general ambience of sexual licentiousness, the Venetian authorities condemned the opera; it was just one of Verdi's many rows with the censors. Yet, as Verdi's first through-composed piece of music-theatre, it was a groundbreaking work that went on to become one of the best known of all chorus operas, much loved for such tuneful numbers as "La donna e mobile" sung by the carefree Duke, and the beautiful and virtuosic "Caro nome" from the innocent Gilda. Based on Victor Hugo's play "Le Roi s'amuse," the libretto is by Francesco Maria Piave.

About Emerging Pictures
Emerging Pictures, managed by Barry Rebo and Ira Deutchman, is the largest all-digital Specialty Film and Alternate Content theater network in the United States. With hundreds of venues in the U.S. as well as a growing presence across the globe--from London to Latvia ---Emerging's network includes traditional art houses, museums, performing arts centers and commercial multiplexes, including Carmike Cinemas, Harkins Theatres, Allen Theatres, Laemmle Theaters and others. The company also distributes programming worldwide under its Ballet in Cinema and Opera in Cinema brands.

Photography and press notes available at:
http://files.emergingpictures.com/1-%20Opera/1-%20Operas/Rigoletto%20(ROH)/Press%20Kit/
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SOURCE Emerging Pictures

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120319/NY72677LOGO
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Emerging Pictures

CONTACT: Ray Forsythe of RLForsythe Communications, for Emerging Pictures, +1-212-861-2100, RLForsythe@RLForsythe.com

Web Site: www.emergingpictures.com

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