Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
- Royal Italian Opera
- Theatre Royal, Covent Garden
- Covent Garden
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Royal Ballet and Opera is the third theatre on the Covent Garden site and opened on 15 May 1858 as the Royal Italian Opera. It became the Royal Opera House in 1892. The theatre closed during the Second World War, becoming a dance hall. The theatre reopened in February 1946 with the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Covent Garden Opera Company as permanent resident companies. The theatre underwent major renovation between 1997 and 1999, and again in 20... The Linbury Studio Theatre and Clore Studio opened within the newly renovated site in 1999. The Royal Opera House was rebranded in 2024 becoming the Royal Ballet and Opera.
The first Theatre Royal, Covent Garden opened on 7 December 1732 primarily as a playhouse. It was destroyed by fire in 1808 and the second Theatre Royal, Covent Garden opened on 18 September 1809. Following major alterations to the interior in 1846, the theatre reopened as the Royal Italian Opera in 1847.
Places
London, England
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Since 1945 the Royal Opera House has been home to resident companies, The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Since that time there has also been resident administrative and production departments supporting the work of the resident companies. The theatre also hosts seasons by visiting companies, commercial events and hires. In 2024 the theatre's name changed to the Royal Ballet and Opera.
Mandates/sources of authority
The Royal Opera House operates under one of two sets of Letters Patent granted by Charles II in 1660. The Sadler's Wells Ballet was granted a Royal Charter in 1955, becoming The Royal Ballet in1956. The Covent Garden Opera Company became The Royal Opera in 1968. It is operated by the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation.
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
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Control area
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Created 2024/11/07
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin