The House that WasJohn Rich's triumphal entry into
Covent Garden, 1732. John Rich made his triumphal entrance into Covent Garden having built the first theatre with profits made from
The Beggar's Opera in the 1720's. Entertainment ranged from plays to pantomime and many of Handel's opera's were given their premiere in the theatre. The British premiere of
Handel's Messiah was given in the theatre in 1743.
The Destruction of the Second Theatre, 1856There have been two disastrous fires in
The Royal Opera House's history. The first in 1808 destroyed the House entirely. The theatre was rebuilt, reopening only a year later as the largest opera house in the world. Then, in 1856 during the evening of a masked ball, fire was discovered and the theatre burnt down, for the second time in its history. The building reopened in 1858, featuring two statues and part of the frieze salvaged from the earlier theatre on the Bow Street frontage. Alongside the theatre, the Floral Hall was reopened in 1860 and was leased out to the flower markets until 1956. (Yes, this is where Audrey Hepburn was filmed selling flowers in
My Fair Lady)
Limelight and RiotsThe Covent Garden audience has never been backward in coming forward with their views. After the opening of the second theatre in 1809 the manager John Kemble doubled some ticket prices. His opening production was drowned out by rattles, whistles, horns and cries of "Old Prices! Old Prices!". The police read Parliament's Riot Act but after six nights of disruption, Kemble was forced to lower prices again.
Then in 1914 Verdi's
Aida was out-triumphed by a group of suffragettes who showered leaflets down on stage and shouted, "Votes for Women!" during the middle of Grand March.
Covent Garden has always been a place of innovation. It was here in the 18th century that pantomime was developed as a dramatic form and the first time a piano was played in public in Britain was here in 1767. In 1837 it was at Covent Garden that 'limelight' was introduced: this consisted of blocks of lime that shone when heated by gas flame and could be pointed in a particular direction - the world's first spotlights.
The Royal Opera House in the 1930'sThe Royal Opera House's has survived two world wars. During World War I the theatre was commandeered by the government for use as a furniture repository. During World War II Mecca Dance Halls leased the theatre and popular dances were held here for the troops. After the war Sadler's Wells Ballet re-opened the House as the new resident ballet company with a production of
The Sleeping Beauty. The opera company gave its premiere of
Carmen in 1947.
Restoration of the Auditorium, 1997 The development process of
The Royal Opera House's originated in 1965 when it was planned that the fruit and vegetable markets would be moved out of the Covent Garden. The land that became available was purchased and plans begun for expansion and development. New rehearsal studios were opened in 1982 and in 1997 the House closed for the first major rebuilding in over 100 years.
Developing the HouseThe refurbishment of
The Royal Opera House's was vital to the future of the theatre. The Victorian building had not been substantially upgraded since the turn of the century and had become shabby and technically outdated.
A generous grant of 78.5 million GBP ($138 USD) was made in 1997 by the National Lottery through the
Arts Council of England, enabling the House to realize major development plans. An additional 100 million GBP was raised by the Royal Opera House with generous help from the Trustees of the Royal Opera House, The Friends of Covent Garden and additional income from the sale of the retail development's on the site.
We are welcomed back to the House in December of 1999 to a fully restored, air-conditioned museum, impressive and spacious front house areas, including the
Vilar Floral Hall, and two new performing venues - the Linbury Studio Theatre and Clore Studio Upstairs. And, for the first time in the history of The Royal Ballet, the entire Company is now fully accommodated on this site in suite of rooms and studios overlooking the Piazza.
Twelve percent of the total development funds were spent on the stage technology bringing the Royal Opera House to the forefront of international theatre design. The entire site measures 2.5 acres; of that a whole acre is taken up with the stage and backstage areas. This capacity enables up to seven different productions to bin in circulation at any one time in the House.
The architects Dixon Jones BDP undertook the new building design work, becoming familiar with the way the House worked over a period of over 13 years. The wagon system (custom built for the theatre by
Rolls Royce) for transporting scenery was designed by the in-house Royal Opera House Development Team.
Scenery is constructed off-site and is delivered via lorry to the Bow Street delivery bay. Up to 28 tonnes at one time can be taken up by lift to the set assembly area where it is put together and stored, ready for rehearsal or performance. Adjacent is one of two opera rehearsal rooms the size of the stage area in which entire sets can be accommodated, enabling performers to rehearse on the set with out having to be on stage.
A wagon system unique to the Royal Opera House transports the scenery backstage mechanically. There are 26 of these mobile wagons measuring approximately 15 metres by 5 metres and each can transport up to 10 tonnes of scenery. Up to four wagons may be moved at one time controlled by the backstage crew using mobile computer controls.
After the Farewell Gala in July 1997, the safety curtain was brought down and the stage and rear stage areas were demolished to create new spaces. The stage was reconstructed to include six sections - each section is an elevator that can carry up to 18 tonnes and may be raised by 2.5 metres or lowered up to 6 metres below stage level. The performing area on stage measures 15 metres square, however space at the sides and rear are also added.
Above the stage the fly tower rises 37 metres, or three times the height of the stage. The 106 fly bars from the tower are all operated by mobile computer controls and each bar can carry up to a tonne of scenery or lighting. The stage can be closed off using acoustic doors; there are six of these doors backstage which separate working areas, the heaviest of which is 68 tonnes.
There are four teams of backstage crew to assemble and change sets for rehearsals and performances. Previous to development, crews worked overnight to strike the set from the evening performance and set up the set for rehearsal in the morning. Today they can change the sets within just a few hours.
This state-of-the-art technology and the increased efficiency has created up to 20% more stage rehearsal time and will increase the number of performances that can be staged at the Royal Opera House.
People in the HouseThere are around 200-300 members of staff working behind the scenes, in areas that include set design, construction and assembly, stage management, sound, scenery painting and props, costumes, wigs and makeup, and lighting. The staff in these departments enable the creative ideas and energy from international designers, directors and choreographers to become a practical reality.
Resident in the building for the first time in history,
The Royal Ballet numbers 85 people, including 26 in the corps de ballet (-tiny sprites, wow). The Royal Opera employs a permanent
chorus of around 45 people and every Season around 100 principal artists are invited to perform with the company.
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House has around 125 permanent players and there are additional freelance players.
Working within the constraints of budgets and the pressures of a busy programme, they are part of the huge team that between December 1999 and September 2000 produced 44 different productions on the main stage.
-Information provided by The Friends of Covent GardenLabels: History
