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 is the perfect way to become more closely involved with The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera as well as meeting other arts lovers. Many guests also use these special events as an opportunity to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries with family or friends in beautiful surroundings.

Examples of special fundraising events:
Whole House Galas 
First Night Celebrations
Dinner on the Main Stage
Wine tasting and auction evenings

The 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 in 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.

Proceeds from fundraising events go towards the essential work of our Education Department and to making the Royal Opera House more and more widely accessible. The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the many new arts initiatives created by ROH2 are supported by the Foundation whose funds go towards our vast variety of activities, including new commissions, big screen relays, works in the Linbury Studio Theatre and the Clore Studio Upstairs, 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

We are delighted to announce that the first night of The Royal Opera's new production of Aida, on 27 April 2010, will be a special celebration in aid of The Royal Opera House Foundation. Another special event for the summer of 2010 will be announced in early spring.

PAST FUNDRAISING EVENTS

La traviata - First Night Celebration
Thursday 18 June 2009

On 18 June 2009 we held a gala dinner following the first performance of Verdi’s famous opera. Guests were joined by the cast and production team which included Renée Fleming, Joseph Calleja, Thomas Hampson and Antonio Pappano.

The Sleeping Beauty – Dinner on Stage
9 March 2008

This unique fundraising event was the first ever dinner on the main stage of the Royal Opera House.  Guests were invited onto the stage to sit and watch, from close proximity, excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty. The evening was introduced by Alan Rickman and performers included Royal Ballet Principals Marianela Nuñez, Tamara Rojo and Thiago Soares.  After the performance the stage was transformed for a breathtaking Grand Russian Imperial dinner.

“…  Balanchine’s inspiration for Jewels came from a moment in the early 1960s 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 Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes; Rubies, with music by Stravinsky, has a New York jazzy feel influenced by his work on Broadway; Diamonds, set to movements from Tchaikovsky’s Third Symphony, goes back to his roots, the glittering classicism of St. Petersburg.”
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.