On Saturday October 17th, theatre and classical music fans are in for a treat when DigiScreen presents a special HD presentation of John Caird’s exquisite chamber play TWIN SPIRITS starring Sting at select Landmark Cinemas locations and other select theatres in Canada. Distributed worldwide by DigiScreen, the highly acclaimed production appears on select Canadian screens as part of an ongoing cinema series from the world’s great stages presented by The Royal Opera House’s Opus Arte.
Twin Spirits, an intimate chamber performance piece, is a beguiling blend of theatre and music from Les Misérables and Nicholas Nickleby director John Caird - featuring the life and music of Robert Schumann, the most popular Romantic composer of the 19th Century. Stage legend Derek Jacobi, renowned baritone Simon Keenlyside and rock star Sting lend their talents to a chamber ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, who portray the deeply poignant love affair between the composer, Robert Schumann, and his pianist wife, Clara Wieck.
After a bitter dispute erupted between Schumann and Clara’s father who was also Robert’s music teacher, the couple were forbidden to see one another. A long enforced separation ensued but, in secret, Robert and Clara strove to keep the courtship alive. The tumultuous four-year period, so formative an influence in their lives, is expressed poignantly in a series of letters and music.
Robert is played by a quartet of performers - his letters to Clara read by Sting, his songs sung by Simon Keenlyside, and the accompaniments and instrumental music played by pianist Iain Burnside and violinist Sergey Krilov. Clara is portrayed by actress Trudie Styler, soprano Rebecca Evans, cellist Natalie Clein and pianist Natasha Paremski. Derek Jacobi provides the narration that links the letters and lyrics.
Conceived and directed by John Caird, Twin Spirits was first performed in June 2005 at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, as a charity fund-raiser. It has since been experienced only at private performances, by small audiences of all ages and interests, leaving them deeply touched and inspired. The performance to be seen in cinemas was captured before a live audience at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden on a magical evening December 20, 2007.
“It is impossible not to be moved.” - Gramophone
Tickets will be available at $19.95 + tax per adult, $16.95 + tax per senior and $9.95 + tax per child. For cinema locations and to purchase advance tickets throughout Canada visit www.digiscreen.ca. For Landmark Cinemas in Alberta and BC, go to www.landmarkcinemas.com. For independent theatres in Vancouver, Waterloo and Bracebridge please visit www.festivalcinemas.ca, www.princesscinemas.com, www.norwoodtheatre.com.
