The Royal Opera, currently under the artistic direction of Music Director Antonio Pappano and Director of Opera Oliver Mears, is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based at the iconic 2256-seat Royal Opera House (1858) in Covent Garden, the heart of London's theatre district, 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.

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

Also based at the Royal Opera House, The Royal Ballet, led by Director Kevin O'Hare, is Britain’s largest ballet company.  The Company has a wide-ranging repertory showcasing the great classical ballets, heritage works from Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan, as well as new works by the foremost choreographers of today.