Thais

BFI IMAX brings live opera to the biggest screen in Britain as it launches The Met: Live in HD in crystal-clear high-definition. Ten productions in the Met's groundbreaking series of live performance transmissions, beamed by satellite from New York to cinemas worldwide, can be seen in the heart of Waterloo.

Renee Fleming stars as the Egyptian courtesan in search of spiritual sustenance. Thomas Hampson is the monk who falls from grace.

Massenet's sensual opera is presented in a new production by John Cox.

Conductor: Jesus Lopez-Cobos; Production: John Cox; Renee Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Michael Schade

The design of this large auditorium lends itself perfectly to hosting opera. As well as its high ceiling, the comfortable seating is steeply raked, offering an unobstructed view from every seat.

The Met: Live in HD captures the onstage action from striking angles and heightens attention to the narrative elements of both performance and production. Behind-the-scenes features, live interviews with cast and crew, insightful short documentaries, and bird's-eye views of the productions offer an unprecedented look at what goes into the staging of an opera.