Several times a year the Duthie Park in Aberdeen plays host to free concerts. The concerts are sponsored by local companies such as the oil company BP. They are called The Free BP Summer Big Screens Event. Though the performers are not actually in the Duthie Park, nor in Aberdeen, they perform live in London from The Royal Opera House and are broadcast direct to a large high definition screen at the lawns on the Duthie Park.

2009 Duthie Park Opera

The free 2009 Duthie Park Opera took place on the 30 June. It was a live broadcast of La Traviata from the Royal Opera House, London.

2008 Duthie Park Concert

The 2008 Duthie Park Concert will be The Marriage of Figaro by the Royal Opera. The open air theatre broadcast live from the Covent Garden Royal Opera House in London will be sponsored by BP. The BP summer big screens event is free and takes place on the 16 July. The 2008 Duthie Park Concert starts at 7pm and ends at 10:30pm. The Marriage of Figaro will also be screened to Trafalgar Square, Canada Square and the Canary Wharf in London, Chertsey Road in Sunbury, Victoria Square in Birmingham, the Botanic Gardens in Belfast and the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock.

2007 Duthie Park Concert

The first BP Summer Big Screens 2007 free screening will be Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky on the 31 May 2007. Performers include Federico Bonelli as Prince Siegfried and Tamara Rojo as Odette.

On the 3 July 2007 the opera Tosca by Puccini will be performed. Performers include Violeta Urmana in the title role, Salvatore Licitra as Cavaradossi and Mark Delavan as Scarpia.

Please bring your own rug or chairs and picnic.

Barbecues, naked flames, glasses, cans and are not permitted at the park. However there will be hot and cold snacks and non alcoholic drinks for sale.

No tickets are needed for these free events - just go along and enjoy the live performances.

Timings Of The Free BP Summer Big Screens Event

Each broadcast starts at 7:30pm. There is a pre-performance film at 7pm for each event. These films give the audience an insight into the Royal Opera House and the life of a Royal Ballet dancer.

First Group Park and Ride Buses can be caught to The Duthie Park from Kingswells and the Bridge of Don. The buses will run from 6pm and 7:30pm and then return from 9:30pm until 11pm. The cost of the bus fare will be £1 and the buses will drop passengers off at Riverside Drive. Buses numbers 16, 17 and 28 also go to the Duthie Park as part of their routes.

The events are organised by Beyond Petroleum, Aberdeen City Council and The Royal Opera House.

Duthie Park history and information.

Free At The Dee

Easter Events At Duthie Park.

We also run the www.findextrawork.co.uk website where there is information about earning more money from a range of part time and full time jobs which can be done at home or out and about. Visit for more information.

2006 Duthie Park Concert
There were two free concerts held in the Duthie Park for 2006. The first event of 2006 was held on the 1 June. It was a performance of Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty by The Royal Ballet Company. Performers included Roberta Marquez as Princess Aurora (the sleeping beauty) and Rupert Pennefather as Prince Florimund. Over 2500 Aberdonians enjoyed the free concert which was also broadcast live to London's Canary Wharf, Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Hull, Manchester, Birmingham, Rotherham and Plymouth. The broadcast included an interview with Royal Ballet Prima Ballerina Darcy Bussell.

On the 7 July The Royal Opera Company performed Turandot. Performers include Andrea Gruber in the title role, Elena Kelessidi as Liu and Ben Heppner as Calaf.