The Royal Opera House

Last modified: 11 January, 1996

The Royal Opera House (also referred to as Covent Garden) is the home of the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet and also plays host to visiting companies.

There has been a theatre here since 1732. Burned down in 1808 (with the loss of 23 firemen's lives). New theatre opened 18 Sep 1809. Burned down 1856. Present theatre opened 15 May 1858 and became The Royal Opera House in 1892. .

The Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet will have a temporary new home from autumn 1997 for two seasons while the Royal Opera House is refurbished. The new home is yet to be built and will (probably!) be on the south bank of the Thames near Tower Bridge - it will seat nearly 2500 and have a larger stage than the ROH itself.

The Birmingham Royal Ballet

The Birmingham Royal Ballet is managed by the Royal Opera House. It is based at the Birmingham Hippodrome. General information: 0121 622 5120. Box office: 0121 622 7486.

Information

All productions are sung in the original language with English surtitles. There are 2011 seats and prices vary from the extrememly cheap (standing, restricted view) to the very expensive! All productions are in rep so check dates carefully.

Address: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7QA
Box office (cc): 0171 304 4000

Nearest underground: Covent Garden. Buses (alight at Aldwych): 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 68, 76, 77a, 91, 171, 171a, 176, 188, 501 (southbound), 505 and 521. Cars: parking in the area is difficult, there are car parks in Drury Lane and Sheldon Street.

Light suppers are available (if you book - 0171 836 9453) in the Crush Bar or Pit Lobby. Drinks and refreshments are also available from one hour before performances.

Schedule

The schedules for the Royal Opera House are released in 'Booking Periods' a short time before each period opens. For example, period 3 1995/96 runs from February to April 1996 - postal booking opened on 11 Dec 95, personal and phone booking opened on 11 Jan 96.

Dates of evening performances shown (matinees are followed by m).

• The Midsummer Marriage, Tippet
  Jan 16,19,27. Feb 8,12,14
• The Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky
  Jan 20m,20,22,23,24,26,29,31. Feb 1,3m,3,6,20,22.
• Samson and Dalia, Sait-Saens
  Jan 30. Feb 2,5,10,15.
• Mixed Programme. Rhapsody, New Hart Ballet, New Page pas de deux, The Invitation
  Feb 7,9,17,23. Mar 13,15.
• Aida, Verdi
  Feb 13,16,21,24.
• Semele, Handel
  Feb 19,26. Mar 1,4,6,8.
• Gotterdammerung, Wagner
  Feb 27. Mar 2,5.
• Giselle, Adam (revised Horovitz)
  Feb 29. Mar 12,14. Apr 1,2,3,6m,6,13m,13.
• La traviata, Verdi
  Mar 11,16,19,23,26,29.
• Cavalleria rusticana/Pagaliacci, Mascagni/Leoncavallo (Welsh National Opera )
  Mar 20,22.
• The Rake's Progress, Stravinsky
  Mar 21.
• Arabella, Strauss
  Mar 27,30. Apr 4,8,11,16.

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