On Thursday 16 May, His Majesty King Charles III joined the audience for a special gala performance to celebrate The Royal Opera’s longest serving Music Director, Sir Antonio Pappano.  

Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, Alex Beard, said 'We were deeply honoured and absolutely delighted to welcome His Majesty King Charles III to this extraordinary night of music and singing. It’s impossible to understate Tony’s impact over the last 22 years. He’s part of the fabric of our theatre, and the legacy of his performances, and the talent he’s nurtured have made an enormous contribution to the arts globally.'

Celebrating Pappano’s 22-year tenure, the gala comprised performances by friends and regular collaborators including Aigul Akhmetshina, Carlos Álvarez, Xabier Anduaga, Diana Damrau, Freddie De Tommaso, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Gerald Finley, Ermonela Jaho, Jonas Kaufmann, Huw Montague Rendall, Lisette Oropesa, Sondra Radvanovsky, Nadine Sierra, Insung Sim and Bryn Terfel. 

They were joined by the Royal Opera Chorus and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, led by Concert Master Vasko Vassilev performing repertoire by composers such as Donizetti, Massenet, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, and Verdi.  

A life-long music enthusiast and champion of the arts, His Majesty King Charles III invited Pappano to conduct the orchestra accompanying Their Majesties’ Coronation, which celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this month.

Last week, it was confirmed that His Majesty would serve as Patron of the Royal Opera House, The Royal Opera and newly The Royal Ballet, taking over from his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.   

Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, said: