The Vital Spark

Power, betrayal, and love collide in Africa in this reinvigorated Shakespearean classic.

Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy is reborn as a cerebral thriller set in the 21st century, with Sir Ian McKellen playing the tormented prince.

A-list actors workshop the words of the Bard in a must-see documentary for all Shakespeare fans.

Two young actors embark on a road trip to get to the heart of the world’s greatest storyteller, William Shakespeare.

The extraordinary story of how two of William Shakespeare's friends saved some of his greatest plays from being lost and forgotten.

Choreographer Mats Ek takes on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet creating something wholly new with the Royal Swedish Ballet.

Yorke Dance Project's stunning made-for-film production of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Sea of Troubles.

Haunted by grief, and with his world spinning violently out of control, Hamlet has to make some decisions: forget or remember; live or die.

The famous Act 3, Scene 1 exchange between Hamlet, played by Billy Howle (The Serpent), and Ophelia, played by Mirren Mack ( Mary and George).

Billy Howle performs Hamlet's famous ''to be or not to be.'' soliloquy.

Graeme Murphy reimagines Romeo and Juliet for a striking ballet filmed at the Sydney Opera House.

Step behind the scenes and become a part of The Royal Shakespeare Company with exclusive access to the open rehearsal for their production of Henry VI: Part One.

Gregory Doran's thrilling production of Shakespeare's Richard III with the Royal Shakespeare Company featuring Arthur Hughes.

The Royal Shakespeare Company's fresh and vibrant contemporary restaging of Shakespeare's dark comedy, directed by Blanche McIntyre.

Experience the Royal Shakespeare Company's five-star production of Henry VI Part Two directed by Owen Horsley.

Dive into the final chapter of the Royal Shakespeare Company's gripping Henry VI trilogy, directed by Owen Horsely.

Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) plays the title role in Shakespeare's epic story of nationalism, war, and the intricate dance of power in Henry V.

Director Erica Whyman transforms Shakespeare's emotionally charged play into a dystopian drama filled with The Handmaid's Tale-like horrors.

Phillip Breen's hilarious production of The Comedy of Errors, set in the 1980s, with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Delve into the life and work of American abstract impressionist artist Miriam Beerman.

Celebrate 200 years of art and passion as curators, critics, and even royalty discuss their favorite paintings on view at London's National Gallery.

Johannes Vermeer is a fascinating painter whose life and works are explored here in amazing detail. An exposition of period musical pursuits is blended with the art of Vermeer and his contemporaries.

Can art change hearts and minds and, in doing so, stop a bullet from being fired? Social-conscience artist William Kelly investigates.

Join Andrew Marr as he reveals how art became Winston Churchill’s sanctuary amidst the chaos of a world at war.

Powerful performances and expert analysis help set the record straight, literally and figuratively, “In Search of Mozart.”

This revealing documentary uncovers the enigmatic life and artistic journey of American painter Edward Hopper, exploring how his personal experiences shaped his art.

The ‘sheer visual sophistication’ of Annabel Arden’s Barbiere serves ‘a triumphant celebration of Rossini’s musical genius

Power is set against innocence in this strikingly staged production, starring Lisette Oropesa and Carlos Álvarez.

Lucia has fallen in love with Edgardo, the mortal enemy of her brother. She is ultimately broken by her unrequited love and becomes a murderess.

Richard Jones captures the blend of tragedy and comedy in La Bohème, and provides an analysis of Puccini’s young would-be artists and their lovers.

Julia Jones conducts The Royal Opera’s spell-binding production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute with a cast including Roderick Williams as Papageno.

Kasper Holten’s 2014 production for The Royal Opera House casts Don Giovanni as an artist who thrives on an audience enticed by his creative gifts.

Take a front row seat as the "King of the High Cs" Luciano Pavarotti performs “Nessun Dorma” for over 500,000 people in New York's Central Park.

Based on the folktale that inspired the Little Mermaid, Dvořak’s best-known opera, ''Rusalka,'' tells the story of a nymph who wants to be human.

Sex, power, and greed collide in this high-octane rock opera exploring the darker side of the American Dream, filmed live on stage in New York City.

Esteemed director Christof Loy presents a stunning new production of Strauss' intimate psychological opera, Arabella.

Rinat Shaham is the provocative and free-spirited Carmen, while Dymtro Popov portrays Don José with a perfect mix of naivety and desire.

Pinkerton returns to the US and finds a “real” wife, while Butterfly waits with unshakeable faith for him to return to the house on the harbour.

Victory makes Radamès a hero, but tangles his Ethiopian lover Aida in a dangerous royal love triangle and a very personal war.

Daniel Barenboim conducts Fidelio, a moral title associated with the ideals of liberty of the French Enlightenment.

Mozart’s masterpiece conducted by Giovanni Antonini on stage at La Scala with Michael Hampe’s staging.

Daniele Abbado explores themes of identity, exile and religion in this powerful staging of Verdi's epic opera with Plácido Domingo as Nabucco.

A deeply moving production of the traditional double-bill Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana is shown here at Milan's Teatro alla Scala.

This production from La Scala stars opera greats Jonas Kaufmann and Erwin Schrott, with newcomer Anita Rachvelishvili making her successful debut.

Plácido Domingo's triumphant return to his baritone roots is captured in this stunning Teatro alla Scala's 2010 production of Simon Boccanegra.

The opera-dilemma of maternal love and filial love is presented in the classical staging production directed by Hugo De Ana

The Royal Opera House's superb production of Saint-Saëns' opera, Samson and Delilah, skillfully directed by the multi-Olivier Award Winner, Richard Jones.

Glyndebourne's brilliant production of Handel's Giulio Cesare starring Sarah Connolly and Danielle de Niese.

Joyce DiDonato and Julia Bullock star in a bold reimagining of Handel's Theodora at The Royal Opera House.

Don Giovanni (Juan) retells Mozart's classical masterpiece as a story of the modern man's escape from himself and his demons.

Benoît Jacquot’s acclaimed film of Puccini’s opera stars Angela Gheorghiu in the title role with Roberto Alagna and Ruggero Raimondi.

Die Walküre - The Valkyrie - is the second opera in Wagner’s four-part epic, the Ring Cycle.

The final part of the tetralogy sees yet another broadening of the horizon.

Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold - an epic of gods and monsters - brought to the 21st century at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Siegfried presents an encounter not only between man and woman but between two principles

Götterdämmerung presents the final and apocalyptic duel between the queens Brünnhilde and Kriemhild as narrated in the epic “Song of the Nibelung."

Two young people’s search for self-identity and their meeting at the end of this opera are the hopeful elements in the story moves towards disaster.

OperaGlass Works films their production of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, conducted by John Wilson.

In Die Walküre the powerful ring continues to be the source of conflict, dictating the fate of those who desire it and those who fear it.

Lee Reynolds conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra in an innovative new production of Ravel’s opera, L’enfant et les sortilèges.

Experience Verdi’s La Traviata, the inspiration behind Moulin Rouge, lovingly staged at London’s Royal Opera House.

When the European youth chooses War above Love, Cupid decides to seek out new followers on other continents.

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the best-known operas worldwide. The ROH stages this alluring Japanese tragedy, reminding us why it’s a favorite.

The world premiere recording of Brett Dean's new opera based on Shakespeare's best-known tragedy.

The ‘sheer visual sophistication’ of Annabel Arden’s Barbiere serves ‘a triumphant celebration of Rossini’s musical genius

A modern opera adaptation by Charles Wuorinen based on Annie Proulx’s short story.

Glyndebourne’s wartime history as a home for evacuee children is the ingenious context for a new production of this unclassifiable tale.

Deborah Warner’s beautiful and evocative production of Britten’s final operatic masterpiece.

Witty yet shot through with pain and sadness, a deeply ambivalent life in the day of masters and servants as they scheme and outwit one another

Peter Konwitschny achieved a resounding success and Marlis Petersen a sensational debut in the title role with this new production of La Traviata

In the third part of Wagner's Ring Cycle, Siegfried follows the rise of a young hero, the illegitimate son of the twins from Die Walküre

The stout Sir John Falstaff has financial problems, which he attempts to solve by having affairs with two very wealthy, very married women.

Ketevan Kemoklidze leads as Rosina while the orchestra plays under the magical baton of the young principal guest conductor Andrea Battistoni.

This production from the historic Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova stars power couple Daniela Dessì and Fabio Armiliato, as lovers Tosca and Cavaradossi.

The second part of Wagner's Ring Cycle, Die Walküre, takes us on a theatrical voyage into a world that is in a never- ending state of war.

Twilight of the Gods, the Ring Cycle's conclusion, takes us to the children who have been left in the shadow of a power struggle between gods.

Das Rhinegold is a theatrical journey that takes us back to our childhood, where fantasy becomes palpable reality.

The legendary Zubin Mehta conducts Aida, Verdi’s most spectacular and over-the-top opera.

Staatsoper Hamburg and Vincent Boussard’s new staging of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly brings to life the moving tragedy of Japanese geisha Cio-Cio San