.jpg)
Done by: Jaime Gonzalez Mendoza
The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (known as ROH), is one of London's great treasures. It has survived two disastrous fires, two world wars and numerous other disturbances.
Covent Garden was originally land farmed by the monks of Westminster Abbey. In 1632, Inigo Jones built the first public square in Britain there for the Earl of Bedford, with support from King Charles I. The famous fruit and vegetable market started in 1649, but the Opera House's history didn't begin until 1732.
It was built on the profits from a hit musical, The Beggar's Opera. Actor/manager John Rich used his share to build a new theatre, the first on the site. The Theatre Royal Covent Garden opened on 7 December 1732 with Congreve's satire The Way of the World. For the first hundred years it focused on drama.
The theater was completely destroyed by fire in 1808.
Rebuilding began the same year, with the Prince of Wales laying the foundation stone on 31 December. Less than a year later, on 18 September 1809, the new Theatre Royal Covent Garden reopened with an unusual double bill - Shakespeare's Macbeth and a musical, The Quaker
It wasn't until 1846 that the Theatre Royal gave its allegiance to opera once again. It was completely remodelled. A famous Italian company moved in, changing the house name to the Royal Italian Opera. It reopened in 1847 with a gala performance of Rossini's Semiramide. Disaster struck when the theatre was again destroyed by fire in March 1856. It re-opened on 15 May 1858, this time with Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots.
The ROH acquired its current name in 1892. The first half of the 20th century was not its finest hour. It was requisitioned during World War I for storage, and later used for cabaret, lectures and tea dances. During World War II it was a popular dance hall.
Peacetime saw a revival of the arts in Britain, and the ROH was reopened in 1946 with a performance of Tchaikovsky's ballet Sleeping Beauty. Opera returned later the same year and the two companies shared the house, an arrangement that continues to this day.
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of its turbulent past, the ROH was again transformed in a rebuilding programme from 1996-1999. Reopening on 4 December 1999, drop in when you're in London.
If you have never been to the Royal Opera House before, you have to read this, we hope you find this information useful. And should you have any questions during your visit please don't hesitate to ask any of our friendly and approachable Front-of-House staff.
There is no dress code at the Royal Opera House. You can wear jeans (although most people don't), and you certainly don't have to wear evening dress (although a few do). Most visitors dress fairly smartly, but what you wear is up to you.
There are two bars and three restaurants at the Royal Opera House, all of which open 90 minutes before curtain up and again during intervals. Further information can be found by visit our bars and resturants page.
Performances start promptly. To be certain of being seated in good time, we recommend you arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain up. If you miss the start or leave the auditorium at any point, you can watch on TV monitors until there's a suitable gap in the performance for you to return to your seat
Sitting near someone who is texting or making a phone call is extremely distracting. From certain seats it can distract the performers. For this reason both calling and texting are forbidden in the auditorium. Needless to say, taking photographs and videos is also forbidden.
Royal Opera House Restaurants is a refreshing new venture by the Royal Opera House and its new catering partner Company of Cooks.
Royal Opera House Restaurants will include the Paul Hamlyn Hall Balcony Restaurant and Bar, the Amphitheatre Restaurant and Bar, the Crush Room, Conservatory and Trust Rooms dining, Staff and Artists’ catering and Events.
The address is:
Covent Garden, London
And if you want to contact us, the telephone: 44 (0)20 7304 4000
Here is the schedule of the plays on April
•Apr•
5
Mon La Fille Mal Garde12:30
•Apr•
5
Mon Il Turco In Italia19:30
•Apr•
8
Thu Il Turco In Italia19:30
•Apr•
10
Sat Cinderella12:30
•Apr•
10
Sat Il Turco In Italia19:30
•Apr•
13
Tue Il Turco In Italia19:30
•Apr•
14
Wed Concerto/The Judas Tree/Elite Syncopations19:30
•Apr•
15
Thu Concerto/The Judas Tree/Elite Syncopations19:30
•Apr•
16
Fri Il Turco In Italia19:30
•Apr•
17
Sat Cinderella14:00
•Apr•
17
Sat Cinderella19:00
•Apr•
19
Mon Il Turco In Italia19:30
•Apr•
20
Tue La Fille Mal Garde19:30
•Apr•
21
Wed La Fille Mal Garde19:30
•Apr•
22
Thu Cinderella19:30
Prices
The price depends of the zones, there are five main zones
Amphitheatre
Balcony
Grand Tier
Stalls circle
Orchestra Stalls
From £9.00-£77.00
£9.00 (£8.00 Ticket + £1.00 Fees)
£77.00 (£70.00 Ticket + £7.00 Fees)
http://www.roh.org.uk/visit/index.aspx
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Royal-Opera-House-tickets-London/venue/279720
http://theatrehistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/londons_royal_opera_house
