6 June 2011
Eastbourne is getting ready to join 58 cities from 18 countries across Europe to take part in Viva Europa on Monday 13 June with visitors invited to enjoy a FREE live screening of Giacomo Puccini’s TOSCA, being performed at the Opera House in Valencia, on a giant screen on the Wish Tower Slopes.
This cultural initiative was born out of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation in 2009 and this is the third consecutive year, within the European Year of Volunteering 2011 under the patronage of Ms Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. The screening comes as a further boost to Eastbourne as the town celebrates the return of the prestigious AEGON International Tennis Championships, with Eastbourne the only UK venue taking part in Viva Europa.
Organisers hope that the free screening will bring together residents, visitors and tennis spectators to watch a cast of the highest artistic standards performing opera TOSCA, which is led by Oksana Dyka, Jorge de León andBryn Terfel.
Eastbourne Borough Council CabinetMember for Tourism and Leisure Cllr Neil Stanley said “We are very excited to take part in Viva Europa for the first time with Eastbourne joining an audience across Europe for this world famous opera. The screening is completely free and we hope that residents enjoying the tennis, as well as visitors who have come into the town to watch the sporting action at Devonshire Park, will take the chance to extend their day out and enjoy this fantastic evening performance, in the natural amphitheatre of the Wish Tower Slopes.
“The giant screening went down really well for the Royal Wedding earlier this year and this is another brilliant opportunity to bring the whole community together. With the town well and truly behind the tennis this year, we hope this screening will add to the real buzz that Eastbourne is enjoying!”
TOSCA will be broadcast live from the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia and starts at 7pm British time, with an estimated global audience of more than 80,000 people.
With the AEGON International Tennis Championships at Devonshire Park already attracting a global audience with some of the world’s best players set to take part, Eastbourne will get another opportunity to reach a huge European audience with a 20-second video being broadcast during the performance interval.
For more information on Viva Europa and to find out what other European cities are taking part go to the Viva Europa 2011 website. For more information on the Eastbourne screening, which will have bars open for refreshments, go to the VisitEastbourne website or call 0871 663 0031.
