The Royal Opera - London | 26 May 2022 |
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Performance reviews
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Pierrot LunaireThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() |
Two for the price of one with Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg |
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Covent Garden’s future stars make the most of a tricky double bill |
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Unexpected double bill marks 20 years of the Royal Opera’s Young Artists programme |
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more reviews [+]
Mavra and Pierrot lunaire make an effective double bill |
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Blancmanges, bin bags and drag as double bill probes gender |
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MavraThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() |
Two for the price of one with Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg |
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Covent Garden’s future stars make the most of a tricky double bill |
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Unexpected double bill marks 20 years of the Royal Opera’s Young Artists programme |
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more reviews [+]
Mavra and Pierrot lunaire make an effective double bill |
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Blancmanges, bin bags and drag as double bill probes gender |
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LohengrinThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 17 | ![]() ![]() |
Londres y su primer Wagner Post Covid |
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The Royal Opera’s first post-Covid Wagner staging thrills on every level |
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Brandon Jovanovich offered a finely judged portrayal of Lohengrin |
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Triumphant first revival of David Alden’s Lohengrin at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
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A perfect Eevening at the opera |
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A brilliant and faultless evening’s entertainment |
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Al termine applausi calorosi per tutti gli interpreti con ovazioni per il direttore e il coro |
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An exemplary revival brings David Alden’s 2018 Wagner production into sharp focus |
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Brandon Jovanovich and Jennifer Davis shine amidst David Aldens’ dark and searching vision of Wagner’s politics |
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Opera in time of war |
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American Tenor Brandon Jovanovich casts a tender spell |
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David Alden’s intriguing Lohengrin at Covent Garden reminds us of the power of Wagner’s masterpiece |
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Powerful and prescient production strips Wagner’s opera of its romance |
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A bold and brilliant staging of this Wagner masterpiece |
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A matter of faith and doubt: David Alden’s Lohengrin returns to Covent Garden |
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An evening of acute theatrical potency |
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Les terribles échos de Lohengrin à Londres |
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Don PasqualeThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | ![]() ![]() |
A night of pure fun at the opera |
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Michieletto’s biting production finds pathos in comedy |
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The Royal Opera revives its bittersweet staging with a fine cast |
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more reviews [+]
The charms of Donizetti’s comic opera continue to elude |
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La Royal Opera House di Londra riprende con successo lo spettacolo di Don Pasquale di Donizetti firmato da Damiano Michieletto |
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Despite Michieletto’s production, it’s well-nigh impossible not to enjoy Covent Garden’s Don Pasquale |
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Pretty Yende sweetens Damiano Michieletto’s acidic Don Pasquale on its Covent Garden return |
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Don Pasquale moqueur et cruel par Michieletto à Londres |
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The Royal Opera's revival is slick and witty, with more than a hint of cruelty |
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First Revival of Damiano Michieletto’s Don Pasquale at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
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Damiano Michieletto’s Don Pasquale returns to the Royal Opera House |
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Strong conducting and direction ensure Donizetti’s sharp-edged comedy retains the audience’s sympathy |
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Peter GrimesThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 16 | ![]() ![]() |
El desafío y la gloria de Peter Grimes |
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Avant Paris, Peter Grimes captive au Royal Opera House de Londres |
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The Royal Opera presents ‘a lost lone man’ in seedy squalor |
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Quel port abrite la paix? |
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Allan Clayton shines in Deborah Warner’s unsparing production |
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Deborah Warner’s new Peter Grimes has it all |
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A ‘Peter Grimes’ for a new age of mental anguish |
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Allan Clayton is a Grimes for today in Deborah Warner's heart-breaking and insightful update |
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The toxic landscape pollutes lives and minds |
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Al termine, applausi al cardiopalma per tutti gli interpreti |
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Compelling, unsettling and ravishingly sung |
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An outstanding night of theatre |
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Allan Clayton grows in stature |
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The power of the sea, the cruelty of the mob |
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In the title role, Allan Clayton imbues the ursine fisherman with a terrific blend of regret and anger |
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Deborah Warner’s production is evocative and theatrical |
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associated articles [+]
‘Everyone has blood on their hands’
How do you breathe life into the tale of the troubled Grimes and the villagers who torment him? Britten’s Peter Grimes at the ROH photo essay.
How do you breathe life into the tale of the troubled Grimes and the villagers who torment him? Britten’s Peter Grimes at the ROH photo essay.
La TraviataThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() ![]() |
Pretty Yende en Vladimir Stoyanov in ontroerende Traviata |
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Pretty Yende is a deeply moving Violetta in La traviata at the Royal Opera House |
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Covent Garden’s latest La traviata revival showcases Pretty Yende’s Violetta which is one for the ages |
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RigolettoThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 24 | ![]() ![]() |
Oliver Mears’s Rigoletto finds its stride at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
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Royal Opera’s thrilling revival showcases three exceptional Italians |
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Covent Garden’s ‘Heart of Darkness’ Rigoletto |
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No punches pulled in an excellent Covent Garden Rigoletto |
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Stefano Montanari and his remarkable cast elevate this Rigoletto revival to a superlative level |
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Rigoletto con Salsi, Feola, Demuro |
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The Royal Opera’s new Rigoletto has the casting is just right |
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See it while it’s still hot |
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Lisette Oropesa è senza ombra di dubbio il pezzo forte del cast |
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First new production of Rigoletto in twenty years at the Royal Opera House |
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One grisly moment aside, Oliver Mears’s first ROH production feels like a straightforward Rigoletto made to last |
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Antonio Pappano, Lisette Oropesa and Carlos Alvarez lead insightful New production |
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A brilliant new production underlines just how relevant the opera is in today's world |
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Rigoletto se burla del Covid |
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Great new production of ‘Rigoletto’ reopens the Royal Opera |
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Oropesa is a matchless Gilda in powerful new take on Verdi’s tragedy |
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A wickedly effective new production |
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Orchestra and chorus pass with flying colours, but tradition weighs heavy elsewhere |
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Time will tell if Oliver Mears’s new Rigoletto for the Royal Opera will reveal more |
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A triumphant full reopening of the Royal Opera House |
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A strangely timeless, but nonetheless comfortingly familiar Rigoletto from The Royal Opera |
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A superb drama of darkness and light |
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Oliver Mears’ first production for the Royal Opera succeeds by taking Rigoletto seriously |
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A striking Rigoletto opens Oliver Mears' account at The Royal Opera |
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TheodoraThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 16 | ![]() |
Una Theodora indómita |
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Récit de spectacle |
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Dynamitée de l’intérieur |
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Musicalmente parlando, le cose vanno molto meglio per fortuna |
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Sublime musicality (and pole dancing) in Handel’s ‘Theodora’ |
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Katie Mitchell’s perceptive, largely cogent staging of this rarely seen work, performed by a committed cast, allows Handel’s genius to shine through |
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A new and highly innovative Theodora at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
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Katie Mitchell scores an unqualified success with her revisionist Handel |
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Katie Mitchell’s new production is skewed by glib cod-feminism |
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A thoughtful and compelling Theodora at the Royal Opera House |
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Bombs, a brothel and a brilliant cast |
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This isn’t the shocking staging we were promised |
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Katie Mitchell's staging of a late Handel oratorio works well, but acting trumps singing |
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Committed performances |
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272 years on, Handel's Theodora comes home to Covent Garden |
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Du séisme à la bombe désamorcée |
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associated articles [+]
Royal Opera House hires intimacy coordinator for sex scenes
Ita O’Brien is working on a production of Handel’s Theodora to ensure actors feel comfortable during passionate scenes.
Ita O’Brien is working on a production of Handel’s Theodora to ensure actors feel comfortable during passionate scenes.
‘With the theatrical canon, you have to look the misogyny in the eye’
Katie Mitchell's production of Handel’s Theodora will be the first at the Royal Opera House since its 1750 premiere - but not before Katie Mitchell has gone to battle with the libretto’s misogyny.
Katie Mitchell's production of Handel’s Theodora will be the first at the Royal Opera House since its 1750 premiere - but not before Katie Mitchell has gone to battle with the libretto’s misogyny.
BajazetThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 10 | ![]() |
Irish National Opera explore every sizzling note of Vivaldi |
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Bajazet has its Royal Opera House debut after nearly 300 years |
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Vivaldi at Covent Garden for the first time: Bajazet is gripping from first to last acts |
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Irish National Opera’s Bajazet Comes to the Royal Opera House, |
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Vivaldi with pure energy – with a sting in its tail |
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Bravura and brutality |
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Vivaldi’s opera is delivered with narrative clarity and expressive power |
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Baroque thrills: Irish National Opera presents Vivaldi's Bajazet at Covent Garden |
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Vivaldi’s baroque opera reaches the Royal Opera House |
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Robust but a bit rough |
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ToscaThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 15 | ![]() ![]() |
Gheorghiu, Pop, Volle and Armiliato are the stars of a superb revival of The Royal Opera’s Tosca |
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Gheorghiu channels Puccini’s temperamental diva to mark the 30th anniversary of her Royal Opera debut |
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A patchwork quilt of an evening with Gheorghiu sounding vocally unbalanced |
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A star is born as Freddie De Tommaso sets the house alight |
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Tosca con Pirozzi, De Tommaso e Sgura |
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Half Italian, half Tunbridge Wells, Freddie De Tommaso is a sensational Cavaradossi |
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Vivre pour l'art, Mourir pour l'amour |
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The second cast of Covent Garden’s Tosca lives up to the first |
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Freddie De Tommaso steals the show |
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Excellent debuts mark Jonathan Kent’s production of Puccini’s political thriller |
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Excellent revival of Jonathan Kent’s Tosca at the Royal Opera House |
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Alphas all round for the ‘B Cast’ in ‘Tosca’ at Covent Garden |
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Good musical performances in a poor production as Covent Garden revives Tosca |
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There was real-life as well as operatic drama on the stage at the Royal Opera’s first night of Tosca |
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A couple of Cavaradossis, plus a divine diva |
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associated articles [+]
Young singer saves the day at Royal Opera House
A performance of Tosca at the Royal Opera House was saved from disaster when young singer Freddie De Tommaso stepped up to take a leading role after its star tenor fell ill.
A performance of Tosca at the Royal Opera House was saved from disaster when young singer Freddie De Tommaso stepped up to take a leading role after its star tenor fell ill.
Royal Opera House cancels opening night of ‘Tosca’
The Royal Opera House has canceled the opening night of Puccini’s “Tosca” on Dec. 5 due to technical issues and increased cases of COVID-19.
The Royal Opera House has canceled the opening night of Puccini’s “Tosca” on Dec. 5 due to technical issues and increased cases of COVID-19.
Le nozze di FigaroThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | ![]() ![]() |
An evening of pure pleasure |
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Bodas de Figaro frescas y sin virus |
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A fresh feeling revival of David McVicar’s The Marriage of Figaro at the Royal Opera House |
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Youthful cast brings Mediterranean warmth to the Royal Opera |
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New to opera? This is a good production to start with |
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Fizzes with Latin temperament |
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Un ottimo inizio in musica per il 2022 con una serata di puro teatro in musica |
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Pappano leads Covent Garden’s Le nozze di Figaro and it is a visceral reminder of Mozart’s genius |
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An exceptional, exhilarating revival |
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Rising stars have a crazy day: Figaro returns to Covent Garden |
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Perfect ensembles and recits with Antonio Pappano's return as conductor and fortepianist |
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A vivacious new cast brings Italian brio to Mozart's comic masterpiece |
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associated articles [+]
Royal Opera House dedicates ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ to Bernard Haitink
The company will dedicate the current run of “Le Nozze di Figaro” to his memory and the performance of Jan. 11 will include a personal tribute from Music Director Antonio Pappano.
The company will dedicate the current run of “Le Nozze di Figaro” to his memory and the performance of Jan. 11 will include a personal tribute from Music Director Antonio Pappano.
JenufaThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 23 | ![]() |
A deeply felt production |
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Grigorian y Mattila, insuperables |
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Una Jenůfa pasiva y martirizada |
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The wind cries Mary |
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Rencontre au sommet entre Asmik et Karita |
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With remarkable performances from Mattila and Grigorian, musically there is no weak link in Royal Opera’s new Jenůfa |
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Al termine applausi incalzanti e qualche standing ovation da parte di una sala gremita |
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Intense and redemptive |
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A dismal story transformed into a spectacular opera experience |
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An eighteen month delay but worth the wait for Jenůfa at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
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Janáček’s rapturous masterpiece and a top cast withstand the Royal Opera’s rigid new production |
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Claus Guth’s masterful staging is here in triumph |
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A taut and intensive new production from Claus Guth in London |
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Claus Guth’s phenomenal Jenůfa showcases Asmik Grigorian’s remarkable Covent Garden debut |
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After decades, a welcome return of Jenůfa to Covent Garden |
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Mattila is formidable in new Janaček staging |
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Asmik Grigorian carries the force of Greek myth in this flawless staging |
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The orchestra under Henrik Nanasi’s direction plays a blinder |
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Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian’s Covent Garden debut was eagerly anticipated - and she delivered |
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Mattila and Grigorian excel in the Claus Guth’s new production of Jenůfa at Covent Garden |
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Accomplished performances |
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After 20 years, Jenůfa makes a triumphant return to Covent Garden |
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In London sind die Nächte wild |
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NabuccoThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 11 | ![]() ![]() |
Chœurs d'éclats pour coup d'état à Covent Garden |
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Nabucco a los gritos |
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Great singing in Verdi’s Nabucco spoilt by a dreary production |
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Atmospheric but ambiguous production, given extra weight by cast of rich voices |
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Biblical epic in granite and grey: Nabucco marks The Royal Opera's 75th anniversary |
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Life’s hardly a party for Abigaille in The Royal Opera’s revival of Nabucco |
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Terrific singing elevates a clunky production |
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Second revival of Daniele Abbado’s Nabucco at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
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Verdi’s first great opera is revived in style |
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Liudmyla Monastyrska is sensational |
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Un opera in maschera: vocally, chorally and orchestrally this Covent Garden Nabucco is a triumph |
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associated articles [+]
Royal Opera House cancels two performances of ‘Nabucco’
The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has been forced to cancel performances of Verdi’s “Nabucco” on Dec. 23 and 28 due to resource challenges caused by the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The Royal Opera House Covent Garden has been forced to cancel performances of Verdi’s “Nabucco” on Dec. 23 and 28 due to resource challenges caused by the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Wolf Witch Giant FairyThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() |
A bite-sized opera for little ears at Linbury Theatre |
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Cleverness and magic in abundance in Wolf Witch Giant Fairy |
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Beguiling |
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Endearing family folk opera with an ageless streak |
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The ultimate children's storybook on stage has all our favourite characters |
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MacbethThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 15 | ![]() ![]() |
Keenlyside's Macbeth is never less than fascinating |
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First class revival of Phyllida Lloyd’s Macbeth at the Royal Opera House |
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Sound and fury in Phyllida Lloyd’s version of the Scottish play – and signifying plenty |
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Anna Pirozzi, Simon Keenlyside and numerous witches jostle for power at Covent Garden |
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Al termine, accoglienza calorosa per tutti gli interpreti |
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Retour de Macbeth au Royal Opera House |
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Anna Pirozzi’s Lady Macbeth was a musical performance to rival the best heard here in recent years |
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Covent Garden’s Macbeth is back in all its bloody glory |
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Outstanding performances in an imaginative production |
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A strong ensemble for Verdi’s tragedy, but Simon Keenlyside dominates |
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Phyllida Lloyd’s fine revival has darkly austere magnificence |
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The Royal Opera’s Macbeth captures the spirit of Shakespeare’s tragedy, funnelled through Verdi’s genius |
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Phyllida Lloyd’s epic adaptation of Verdi’s powerhouse is back and looking better than ever |
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Consistent dramatic momentum |
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Anna Pirozzi's bravura Lady Macbeth lights up Covent Garden |
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associated articles [+]
Simon Keenlyside: singing Verdi’s Macbeth
Verdi’s opera is not Shakespeare’s play set to music. It’s a different, but equally beautiful, tangle of colour and emotion, and its lead role is one I am still – after many years – getting to grips with.
Verdi’s opera is not Shakespeare’s play set to music. It’s a different, but equally beautiful, tangle of colour and emotion, and its lead role is one I am still – after many years – getting to grips with.
La TraviataThe Royal OperaNo. of reviews: 14 | ![]() |
A heart-rending triumph but where’s the risk-taking? |
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I’ve rarely heard a Covent Garden crowd explode like they did at Royal Opera's latest Violetta |
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Lisette Oropesa brings new life to Verdi’s most renowned opera, La Traviata |
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La produzione di Eyre questa volta prende nuova linfa principalmente grazie a Lisette Oropesa |
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Lisette Oropesa Dazzles as Violetta in La traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
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La traviata is revived once more, with many casts |
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The father of all Germonts dazzles at Covent Garden |
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Oropesa breathes new life into Verdi's most popular opera |
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Lisette Oropesa’s Violetta makes this umpteeenth revival of the Royal Opera’s La traviata unmissable |
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Lisette Oropesa and Liparit Avetisyan once again display their compatibility as stage partners and vocally |
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A standing ovation for Lisette Oropesa in the Royal Opera House’s revival of La traviata |
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associated articles [+]
La traviata – Three sopranos’ views
As the Royal Opera revives its production of La traviata we talk to three of the leading ladies about their take on the role of Violetta.
As the Royal Opera revives its production of La traviata we talk to three of the leading ladies about their take on the role of Violetta.
Everything is in the music
Conductor Antonello Manacorda on returning to La Traviata at Covent Garden, balancing concert work and opera, and music-making being a journey rather than a single event.
Conductor Antonello Manacorda on returning to La Traviata at Covent Garden, balancing concert work and opera, and music-making being a journey rather than a single event.

Reviews search
Performance schedule
Schönberg
12 to 28 May 2022
Stravinsky
12 to 28 May 2022
Saint-Saens
26 May to 19 Jun 2022
Puccini
14 Jun to 6 Jul 2022
Coult
23 Jun 2022
Mozart
25 Jun to 9 Jul 2022
Mascagni
5 to 20 Jul 2022
Leoncavallo
5 to 20 Jul 2022
Bowler
5 to 11 Jul 2022
Verdi
12 to 24 Jul 2022
Verdi
19 to 22 Jul 2022
Mozart
8 to 26 Sep 2022
Strauss, R
9 Sep to 1 Oct 2022
Verdi
25 Sep 2022 to 1 Jun 2023
Leith
7 to 11 Oct 2022
Puccini
14 Oct to 17 Nov 2022
Handel
8 to 24 Nov 2022
Britten
13 to 22 Nov 2022
Puccini
28 Nov to 21 Dec 2022
Mozart
16 Dec 2022 to 28 Jan 2023
Irvine
15 to 19 Jan 2023
Wagner
29 Jan to 16 Feb 2023
Rossini
2 Feb to 6 Mar 2023
Dvorak
21 Feb to 7 Mar 2023
Puccini
10 Mar to 13 Apr 2023
Saariaho
17 Apr to 4 May 2023
Handel
20 Apr to 6 May 2023
Berg
19 May to 7 Jun 2023
Verdi
2 Jun to 2 Jul 2023
Massenet
20 Jun to 4 Jul 2023
El-Turk
28 to 30 Jun 2023
Verdi
30 Jun to 15 Jul 2023
Mozart
8 to 22 Jul 2023
News & Articles
Royal Opera House announces cinema season for 2022-23 |
Seven productions will feature in the company's “biggest Cinema Season ever.” |
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Royal Opera House to introduce age-rating to productions |
The guidance, which is likely to involve age categories of 8, 12, 15, 16 and 18, will be used across all performances from September. |
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Royal Opera House’s 2022-23 season |
The Royal Opera House has announced its 2022-23 season which will feature 20 new productions, nine world premieres, and three UK premieres. |
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Kurt Cobain’s final days to be dramatised by Royal Opera House |
Last Days, adapted from acclaimed 2005 film, ‘plunges into the torment’ of Nirvana singer before death in 1994. |
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Royal Opera House hires intimacy coordinator for sex scenes |
Ita O’Brien is working on a production of Handel’s Theodora to ensure actors feel comfortable during passionate scenes. |
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