The Royal Opera

One of the world’s greatest opera companies

The Royal Opera, under the direction of Antonio Pappano, is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based in the iconic Covent Garden theatre, it is renowned both for its outstanding performances of traditional opera and for commissioning new works by today’s leading opera composers, such as Harrison Birtwistle, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Thomas Adès.

Find out more about The Royal Opera

Antonio Pappano © Sim Canetty-Clarke/ROH 2011

Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera

Antonio Pappano has been Music Director of The Royal Opera since 2002.

Oliver Mears © ROH 2016. Photo by Sim Canetty-Clarke

Oliver Mears, Director of Opera of The Royal Opera

Oliver Mears has been Director of Opera of The Royal Opera since 2017.

Jette Parker Young Artists Programme

Read more about The Royal Opera’s programme to support artists at the beginnings of their careers.

Carmen, The Royal Opera Season 2017/18 © ROH 2017. Photograph by Bill Cooper.

Royal Opera Chorus

Discover more about the Royal Opera Chorus, the backbone of The Royal Opera, founded in 1946.

ROH / HACKNEY EMPIRE: MAMZER BASTARD 2018

Engender

The Royal Opera’s Engender initiative aims to highlight the wealth of female talent both onstage and behind the scenes, and provide a platform for conversations exploring gender in opera today.

Director of Music Antonio Pappano and Director of Opera Oliver Mears, The Royal Opera © Rii Schroeder

Staff

Discover more about the support team behind the performances on stage.

Peter Mario Katona, Director of Casting

Peter Mario Katona has worked at the Royal Opera House since 1983.

Cormac Simms, Administrative Director

Cormac Simms has worked at the Royal Opera House since 1985.

Luciano Pavarotti as The Duke of Mantua in The Royal Opera revival of ‘Rigoletto’ 1970/71 © 1971 Royal Opera House/Donald Southern

The Royal Opera’s history

Find out more about The Royal Opera’s illustrious history since its founding in 1946.

The Royal Opera

Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales

Music Director, Royal Opera House Sir Antonio Pappano Position generously supported by Mrs Susan A. Olde OBE

Director of Opera Oliver Mears

Director of Casting Peter Mario Katona

Administrative Director Cormac Simms

Some of the world's most famous singers have performed with the Company, including Joyce DiDonato, Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Juan Diego Flórez, Angela Gheorghiu, Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko and Bryn Terfel, as well as the late Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti.

The Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, founded in 2001, offers exceptionally talented musicians at the start of their careers a tailored programme of coaching and performance opportunities. Many of its graduates are now seen regularly on the international stage.