Special Events

Another introduction to the rewarding world of philanthropic giving at the Royal Opera House is to attend special fundraising events. Supporting these events brings another opportunity to become closer and more involved with The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and like-minded supporters.

Examples of special fundraising events:
Whole House Galas 
First night Celebrations
Dinner in the main stage
Wine tasting and auction evenings

This creative environment of the Royal Opera House enables us to stretch our imagination and to deliver the most unforgettable events inside our stunning grade one listed theatre. We have a number of spaces in the House with which to entertain; most notably the Paul Hamlyn Hall. But we can create the most unique and bespoke experiences for guests to enjoy, such as hosting fundraising dinners on the stage; allowing our guests to experience the same vantage point as our artists during their performances.

All the proceeds of the fundraising evenings go towards the essential work of our Education Department and to making us more and more widely accessible. The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, The Royal Opera House Orchestra and the many new arts initiatives created by ROH2 are supported by the Foundation whose funds go towards our vast variety of activities. For example: new commissions, big screen relays, works in the Linbury and the Clore, and of course, our educational projects for all ages and abilities. By supporting us you are helping the House grow its talent and the audiences we can reach.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Thursday 18 June 2009 – First night Celebration of La Traviata

We will be hosting a gala dinner on the first performance of Verdi’s famous Opera. Guests will be joined by the cast and production team which includes the sensational American Soprano Renee Fleming, who performs as Violetta, with Joseph Calleja and Thomas Hampson. Royal Opera House Artistic Director Antonio Pappano is conductor for this production.

PAST FUNDRAISING EVENTS

The Sleeping Beauty – Dinner on Stage
9 March 2008

On the 9 March 2008 we held a unique fundraising event, the first ever dinner on the main stage of the Royal Opera House.  Guests were invited on the stage to sit and watch, from close proximity, excerpts of The Sleeping Beauty, introduced by Alan Rickman, performed by members of The Royal Ballet including principals Marianela Nunez, Tamara Rojo and Thiago Soares.  After the performance the stage was transformed into a breathtaking Grand Russian Imperial dinner.

“…  Balanchine’s inspiration for Jewels came from a moment in the early 60’s when he walked past the Van Cleef and Arpels jewellery salon on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and was captivated by the beauty of the jewels in the windows. Each of the ballets reflect the influences he experiences at different times in his life; the French romanticism of Emeralds, the Faure’s music, harks back to his time with Daighilev’s Ballets Russes; Rubies, with music by Stravinksky, has a New York jazzy feel influenced by his work on Broadway; Diamonds, set to movements of Tchaikovsky’s Third Symphony, goes back to his roots, the glittering classicism of St. Petersburgh.”
Monica Mason, Director of The Royal Ballet

The glittering First Night performance of the new production of George Balanchine’s Jewels was followed by a dinner in the stunning Paul Hamlyn Hall where guests were joined by members of The Royal Ballet including Dame Monica Mason, Leanne Benjamin, Tamara Rojo, Zenaida Yanowsky, Edward Watson and the production team.

After 40 years Tosca, one of the most popular operas in The Royal Opera’s repertory was revived with a new production directed by Jonathan Kent.  . Puccini’s famous score combines great set pieces as the ‘Te Deum’, ‘Vissi d’arte’ and ‘E lucevan le stelle’ with a tense drama of love, politics, jealousy and, ultimately, tragedy.

The world-class cast included Angela Gheorghiu in the title role, Marcelo Alvarez as Mario Caravadossi and Bryn Terfel as Baron Scarpia. Antonio Pappano, Artistic Director of the Royal Opera Company, our Maestro, conducted that evening.

Guests were invited to the celebratory post-performance, first night, supper in the Paul Hamlyn Hall joined by the members of the cast and production team.

In June 2005 the Development Department held their first fundraising event on the main stage of the Royal Opera House.  Twin Spirits was about the romance and ultimate tragedy of Robert Schumann and his wife Clara Wieck.  The story was told using their letters with Sir Ian McKellen narrating.  Robert was played by Sting and Clara by Trudie Styler.  Their words were entwined with their music, Robert was sung by Simon Keenlyside, one of the greatest living baritones, accompanied by renowned pianist Iain Burnside with Vasko Vassilev on the violin and Clare was sung by Rebecca Evans the great soprano accompanied by Pamela Nicholson with Nina Kotova on the cello.  The famous director John Caird (of Les Miserables), directed and wrote the script.

For the first time ever the guests watched the performance from the stage, with the backdrop of the auditorium behind the cast, dinner followed in the Paul Hamlyn Hall.