LOS ANGELES & LONDON, Apr 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

RealD Inc. (NYSE:RLD) and the Royal Opera House today announced that the companies are collaborating on the filming of Madama Butterfly in 3D for release exclusively in RealD 3D-equipped theatres worldwide. A follow-up to the companies' recent co-production of Carmen in 3D, the first-ever opera filmed and distributed to theatres in 3D, Madama Butterfly will be a co-production of RealD and the Royal Opera House, filmed during live performances at Covent Garden in July and released in RealD 3D-equipped theatres on a date to be announced in 2012.

"We are committed to leveraging the immersive power of our 3D technology to give audiences a truly differentiated entertainment experience while providing our theatre partners with exclusive added value content," said Joseph Peixoto, President, Worldwide Cinema at RealD. "Madama Butterfly will build on our successful production of Carmen in 3D by giving 3D fans a unique perspective on the arts and expanding the 3D cinema opportunity by introducing new audiences around the world to the RealD 3D experience. Madama Butterfly in RealD 3D will allow audiences to go beyond simply watching the performance and feel as if they've literally stepped into Covent Garden and on stage alongside the performers."

Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, added, "Madama Butterfly is one of our audiences' favorite productions, so to be able to share this with a global audience with the power of 3D in cinemas is wonderful. It's an opera full of drama and stunning music. I'm really pleased that we can build on the success of Carmen in 3D with RealD and progress our partnership in creating unique experiences for opera and cinema fans the world over."

The performance's stage direction is by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, with cast including Patricia Racette in the titular role of Cio-Cio-San, a role for which she is acclaimed worldwide, and James Valenti, as a dashing Pinkerton. The esteemed Andris Nelsons will conduct The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Reprising their roles from Carmen in 3D, Phil Streather will produce and Julian Napier will direct for film.

Puccini's Madama Butterfly is the story of a Japanese geisha's unwavering love for an American naval officer whose thoughtless toying with her devotion is the catalyst for this timeless tragic tale. Madama Butterfly features music of rare and sensual beauty, but also of heartrending power as the tragedy unfolds to its devastating conclusion. The opera's ravishing score features such wonderfully lyrical passages as Cio-Cio-San's first entrance, Pinkerton's seduction of her, the famous Humming chorus, and of course Butterfly's 'un bel dě vedremo'.

About RealD Inc.

RealD Inc. is a leading global licensor of 3D technologies. RealD's extensive intellectual property portfolio is used in applications that enable a premium 3D viewing experience in the theater, the home and elsewhere. RealD licenses its RealD Cinema Systems to motion picture exhibitors that show 3D motion pictures and alternative 3D content. RealD also provides its RealD Display, active and passive eyewear, RealD Format and gaming technologies to consumer electronics manufacturers and content producers and distributors to enable the delivery and viewing of 3D content. RealD's cutting-edge 3D technologies have been used for applications such as piloting the Mars Rover. For more information, please visit our website at www.reald.com.

About the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House is home to The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet and The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Each year, almost 300 performances are given on the main stage and a further 250 on other stages within the iconic Covent Garden building.

Each summer, three performances are relayed to outdoor screens across the UK as part of the BP Summer Big Screens, and other performances of both opera and ballet are screened in cinemas across the world. The Royal Opera House also runs a comprehensive education and community engagement programme reaching more than 80,000 people each year.

Cautionary note on forward-looking statements

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements, including but not limited to: statements concerning the anticipated filming and release of Madama Butterfly. These statements are based on RealD's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside RealD's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. RealD's annual and quarterly reports include a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may cause that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.

RealD undertakes no obligation to update publicly the information contained in this press release, or any forward-looking statements, to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

© 2011 RealD Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SOURCE: RealD Inc.

RealD
Rick Heineman, 310-339-9347
rheineman@reald.com
or
Royal Opera House
Elizabeth Bell, +44 20 7212 9717
elizabeth.bell@roh.org.uk
or
42West
Kelly Mullens, 310-477-4442
kkmullens@42west.net