Thursday 29 February at 6.30 p.m. Broadchurch 1 [of 3]
Friday 1 March at 6.30 p.m. Rossini: The Barber of Seville [for Rossini’s birthday – he was born on 29 February 1792]
Thursday 7 March at 6.30 p.m. Broadchurch 2
Friday 8 March at 6.30 p.m. Dvořák: Symphony No.8 / Smetana: Ma Vlast [Smetana was born on 2 March 1824]
Thursday 14 March at 6.30 p.m. Broadchurch 3 [last]
Friday 15 March at 6.30 p.m. Tribute to Jerome Robbins
Thursday 21 March at 6.30 p.m. Star Wars VIII: The Rise of Skywalker
Friday 22 March at 6.30 p.m. New York New York
Wednesday 27 March at 6.30 p.m. Risen

THURSDAY 29 FEBRUARY AT 6.30 P.M. BROADCHURCH 1

Carriages: 9.00 p.m.

Broadchurch is an outstanding British crime drama that ran for three series; all three will be shown during 2024.

A seemingly calm and friendly seaside town becomes a place wrapped in secrets when the death of an eleven year old boy sparks an unwanted media frenzy. As the town’s locals start to open up about what they do and don’t know, once established relationships get ripped apart and everyone begins to turn on each other, it’s up to Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) to find the killer.

The first series of Broadchurch, which aired in the spring of 2013, was the most successful TV whodunit in recent memory. [The Telegraph]

Admission: US$2.50 / $6.00 the series [free to Film Members]

FRIDAY 1 MARCH AT 6.30 P.M. ROSSINI: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Carriages: 9.30 p.m.

Rossini’s was born on 29 February 1792 so for his 58th birthday The Barber of Seville comes in a highly praised production from Glyndebourne. This glittering operatic jewel in his musical crown is one of the great comic operas of all time – the greatest of all, according to no less an authority than Verdi – and is a blissful evening of musical comedy, as uproarious as it is sophisticated.

This Barber is an out and out triumph of both production and performance that bubbles like the best champagne. [MusicWeb International]

Björn Bürger’s zesty vigour makes Figaro, the titular barber, a believable Mr Fixit. Everyone benefits from the energy generated by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Enrique Mazzola: they are the production’s real powerhouse. [The Standard]

The sheer visual sophistication of Annabel Ardens Barber serves as a triumphant celebration of Rossini’s musical genius, featuring de Niese’s powerfully sung Rosina, Bürger’s gale-force Figaro and Stayton’s pure and mellifluous Almaviva – a leading trio musically, and dramatically beyond compare. [The Independent]

With Enrique Mazzola at the helm of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the score bubbles along on a Puckish current of merry mischief. [The Telegraph]

Danielle de Niese’s voice has softened and darkened but there is, no change in the sheer voltage of her mischievous, provocative presence. [The Classical Source]

The interplay of music, acting and staging is glorious to look at and endlessly entertaining. [Gramophone]

Very enjoyable. The cast were obviously revelling in this production. [Amazon]

Contributing to the ensemble precision, the rest of the cast includes a scene-stealing Berta in Kelly, a suavely unctuous Basilio from Shambolism and Corbelli’s Bartolo, an object lesson in comic understatement. [The Guardian]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Red Carpet Members]

THURSDAY 7 MARCH AT 6.30 P.M. BROADCHURCH 2

Carriages: 9.00 p.m.

Well written and beautifully shot, Broadchurch is a deliberate, slowly unfolding mystery procedural with terrific performances from a fine cast. [Rotten Tomatoes]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Film Members]

FRIDAY 8 MARCH AT 6.30 P.M. DVOŘÁK: SYMPHONY NO.8 / SMETANA: MA VLAST

Carriages: 8.40 p.m.

Smetana was born on 2 March 1824 and died on 12 May 1884; he is regarded as the father of Czech music and the Prague Spring Festival always begins on the anniversary of his death with a performance of Má Vlast¸ the cycle of symphonic poems celebrating his native land. This performance was recorded on 12 May 2011 with an orchestra of 130 – including five harps! It will be preceded by what is perhaps the most Czech of Dvořák’s symphonies, No.8.

This is a beautiful recording of Smetana’s “Ma Vlast” with a youthful and enthusiastic orchestra under Belhaven. [MusicWeb International]

Czech music was always what defined Jiri Belhaven as a conductor. The two best-known numbers, Vltava and From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields, get wonderfully warm readings in their own right; like the whole cycle, they may be pieces that every Czech orchestra knows inside out, but there’s no hint of routine here. [Guardian]

SMETANA AND DVOŘÁK

· The performers have it in their blood with juicily idiomatic wind playing and a string sound that sparkles like the Vltava itself. [Classical Music]

The playing throughout has a transparency, with wonderfully woody woodwinds, and this is complete and utter joy. The playing is superb, the sound excellent and the filming wonderful. [Amazon]

[The River Vltava which is depicted in Am Vlast]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Red Carpet Members]

THURSDAY 14 MARCH AT 6.30 P.M. BROADCHURCH 3

Carriages: 8.30 p.m.

Broadchurch is a quiet, understated and wholly compelling murder mystery: how could you bear to wait a week for each episode?

I watched it all in one sitting – how the rest of you survived eight weeks of waiting, I will truly never know. [The Guardian]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Film Members]

FRIDAY 15 MARCH AT 6.30 P.M. TRIBUTE TO JEROME ROBBINS

Carriages: 8.40 p.m.

Jerome Robbins considered the Paris Opera Ballet as his second home after the New York City Ballet. This production in his honour brings together four works displaying the infinite diversity of his sources of inspiration and his genius on stage: Concerto in G – In the Night – Triade – The Concert.

CONCERTO IN G

Paris Opera Ballet really nails the Robbins style and spirit, a lovely tribute with contrasting pieces from light hearted to romantic and also one that’s very funny. [Amazon]

Wonderful dancing full of variety – including a rare ballet comedy. [HOVD Arts]

IN THE NIGHT

Jerome Robbins evening at the Paris Opera Ballet: can it ever be better than this? [Backtrack]

The Concert is proof positive that ballet can be funny AND beautiful at the same time. It combines comic timing with impeccable technique, exquisite lines, and a great cast of dancers. [Dance Discoveries]

Admission: US$2.50 [free to Red Carpet Members]

APRIL / MAY [PROVISIONAL]

Thursday 4 April Mamma Mia! [again!- but the original stage musical opened in the West End on 6 April 1999…]
Friday 5 April Puccini: Tosca [Puccini died a hundred years ago in 1924]
Thursday 2 May On Her Majesty’s Secret Service [Bond 6!]
Friday 3 May Invitation to the Dance – Daniel Barenboim
Thursday 9 May Star Wars IX: The Last Jedi [and the last in the series!]
Friday 10 May Smetana: The Bartered Bride [Smetana was born two hundred years and died on 12 May 1884]
Thursday 16 May Notting Hill [released 13 May 1999]
Friday 17 May Verdi: Requiem first performed 22 May 1874]
Thursday 24 May The Black Windmill – Michael Caine [released 17 May 1974]
Friday 25 May Africa Day
Thursday 30 May Broadchurch – Season 2
Friday 31 May The Dante Project – Royal Ballet