The Royal Opera House, Covent GardeN

We commence with a look at the founding of the first Covent Garden Theatre in 1732 and follow the sometimes troubled history that has led to the wonderful Victorian building and world-class arts venue that exists today.  We will examine the detail of the auditorium and explore some of the music that has been performed within its walls along with the way composers, performers and managers have influenced the fortunes of the building for more than 280 years.

The Royal Opera House demands world-class performers and performances to keep its audiences engaged, both inside and outside the theatre.  We continue on with looks at the creation and history of the resident companies, The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, and the Orchestra of the ROH and see how onstage performers and a large invisible backstage team all work together to meet the high-level demands of modern productions.  We will examine some artistic heights, the way performers approach their work and learn that sometimes things do not always go to plan!