Opus Arte

The Royal Opera House presents an unusual yet very welcome gift for the festive season: Richard Wagner’s midsummer comedy Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. The colour, characters and vibrant life of medieval Nuremberg are at the heart of this glorious opera....

Plácido Domingo, who celebrated his 70th birthday earlier this year, has played a special part in many Royal Opera Seasons since his debut at Covent Garden in 1971. His extraordinary dramatic presence and peerless musicality have been highlights...

Plácido Domingo’s star turn in the title role of Verdi’s opera Simon Boccanegra won rave reviews from around the world, earlier this year. The stunning production, filmed live at the Royal Opera House, has now been released on DVD

The new opera season often brings with it something very exciting – new operas. Whether first works by up-and-coming stars or premieres from industry professionals, it is always interesting to witness the fledgling outings of a brand new work.

Photo © Alberto Arzoz

The Royal Opera’s new season is underway with a rich and varied assortment of operas scheduled for the run-up to Christmas.

The Bolshoi Ballet is one of the principal dance companies of Russia and one of the most famous ballet companies in the world. The company is making a highly anticipated visit to London this summer to appear at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Ivan Vasiliev in Spartacus. Photo © Damir Yusupov, Bolshoi Theatre

    A nationwide singalong of songs from the opera Carmen kicks off tonight at 6:45pm.

Dates have been released for the entire Royal Opera House 2010-11 season and booking is now open for all performances.

The new season kicks off with Così fan tutte, an opera buffa, or comic opera, by Mozart...

© Peter Suranyi (8/8/2009)

The first opera of 2011 at the Royal Opera House is Il barbiere di Siviglia, the barber of Seville, a deft comedy from the pen of Rossini. It is performed here by a young cast, endeavouring to capture the playfulness and witty touches of this Italian opera from 1816...

© Peter Suranyi (8/8/2009)

^{© Peter Suranyi (8/8/2009)}

6 April 1847 – the Royal Italian Opera house was unveiled in Covent Garden with a performance of Rossini’s Semiramide. The Theatre Royal had existed on the location since 1728, but had been destroyed by fire in 1808 – a serious concern for entertainment spaces in those pre-electricity days. The new building transferred ballet and opera from the Haymarket, beginning the Royal Opera House’s affiliation with Covent Garden that continues to this day.