The Royal Opera 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.
Principal Partner of The Royal Opera
Oliver Mears, Director of Opera of The Royal Opera
Oliver Mears has been Director of Opera of The Royal Opera since 2017.
Jakub Hrůša, Music Director Designate of The Royal Opera
Jakub Hrůša will begin his tenure as Music Director of The Royal Opera in September 2025.
Royal Opera Chorus
Discover more about the Royal Opera Chorus, the backbone of The Royal Opera, founded in 1946.
Jette Parker Artists Programme
Read more about The Royal Opera’s programme to support artists at the beginnings of their careers.
Staff
Discover more about the team of dedicated professionals committed to bringing world class opera to the stage.
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.
History of The Royal Opera
The Royal Opera company was created in 1946 for the reopening of the Royal Opera House after World War II. It was founded as the Covent Garden Opera Company by David Webster and Karl Rankl. The company first appeared during December the same year in Purcell's The Fairy Queen, staged together with Sadler's Wells Ballet (now The Royal Ballet). Its first full-scale opera production was Bizet’s Carmen in January 1947. In 1968 the Company was awarded a Royal Charter and officially became ‘The Royal Opera’.
Since the construction of the first theater in 1732, opera has been a regular attraction at Covent Garden. Italian, French, German and English Operas all part of the repertory. In recent years, The Royal Opera has given an average of 150 performances per Season of approximately twenty operas. Almost half of these performances feature new productions, highlighting the company's dedication to presenting innovative works. Since 2012 the Company has also curated the Studio Programme in the Linbury Theatre, presenting chamber operas and a range of experimental new commissions from up-and-coming and established composers, including Harrison Birtwistle, Luca Francesconi, Philip Glass and Salvatore Sciarrino.
HM The King
Jakub Hrůša
The Royal Opera 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, and some of the world's most famous singers have performed with the Company.
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.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)