I think am becoming addicted to the Live Screenings of the Royal Opera House. Last week I went to see Mozart's Don Giovanni which was being broadcasting in over a thousand cinemas globally - and not only do you feel like you're at the opera because you're watching it live, you get some amazing bonus features thrown in purely for the cinema audience.

Don Giovanni is Mozart's famous story about a renowned womaniser who has slept with thousands of women (there is, apparently, an autobiographical element here). He seduces three women over the course of the opera and becomes tangled in his web of lies and deceptions, until he finally meets his downfall. The production, directed by Kasper Holten, was a perfect mixture of the comic and the tragic, with beautiful and hilarious performances from Mariusz Kwiecien (who was as gorgeous as Johnny Depp and played the lead) and Giovanni’s humble servant (played by Alex Esposito). I particularly enjoyed Elizabeth Watts’ portrayal of the peasant girl, Zerlina, whose expressive and comedic performance was stunning.

The live relay of Don Giovanni was accompanied by a helpful plot synopsis, and fascinating interviews with the cast and director, as well as the set and costume designers. And this gives the cinema audience a far deeper understanding of the opera than a stage production might. Opera on screen also allows the audience to view close-up shots of the performers, heightening the experience and making it feel far more tangible. And, of course, live opera screening gives you a live opera at a fraction of the price of opera tickets.

All in all, it's a great way to begin an opera addiction or to get an opera fix if you're already an addict of this powerful art form. The next Royal Opera House Live Cinema Screening is Sleeping Beauty - perfect for children, find one to take along and get him/her hooked for life!

Get the dates of upcoming live opera cinema screenings.

And here's a taster of Sleeping Beauty - it looks magical!