| The current performing arts center that serves | | | | The name "Royal Opera House" did not accrue to |
| as the home of The Royal Opera-as well as The | | | | the building until 1892. There were strictly |
| Royal Ballet and The Royal Orchestra-is actually | | | | delineated winter and summer seasons for |
| the third edifice of its kind on this site in central | | | | operas; during the dark months, the theater |
| London, one that is colloquially known as Covent | | | | remained inactive or was leased out for dances, |
| Garden. The surrounding district also hosts a large | | | | lectures, and the like. The British government |
| selection of upscale shops in an open-air market | | | | commandeered the main auditorium during WWI |
| setting. The first performance to be held on this | | | | as a furniture storage facility, and the Second |
| site, a ballet, took place in 1734. The composer | | | | World War saw it put into use as a dance hall. |
| G.F. Handel produced an entire season of operas | | | | Following the war, the opera house was restored |
| and oratorios during the following year. This first | | | | to its former purpose; the inaugural post-war |
| structure was eventually destroyed by fire in | | | | production [1946] was the ballet Sleeping Beauty, |
| 1808, and another conflagration in 1857 leveled its | | | | starring Margot Fonteyn. The following year saw |
| successor. The current building boasts a façade, | | | | the resident company present its first-ever |
| auditorium and foyer from the third | | | | production of Bizet's opera, Carmen. |
| reconstruction [1858], but the rest of the | | | | Badly in need of a facelift, management took |
| complex was remodeled extensively during the | | | | advantage of the newly created National Lottery |
| last decade of the 20th century. | | | | and its pledge to use some of its profits toward |
| Handel's presence in London at the behest of the | | | | worthwhile arts programs throughout the U.K. |
| monarchy-King George II was one of the | | | | Around a third of the cost to rebuild the Royal |
| composer's patrons back in Germany prior to his | | | | Opera House-nearly £60 million out of £178 |
| ascension to the British throne-provided audiences | | | | million-was applied to the project from this source. |
| with an opportunity to be the first to hear many | | | | The balance of funds came from corporate |
| of his operas. Among the operas that premiered | | | | donations, private individuals, and government |
| at the Royal Opera House in his first few years | | | | grants. The reconstruction process added modern |
| as music director were Alcina, Atalanta, and | | | | rehearsal facilities, a secondary auditorium (Linbury |
| Ariodante, plus his oratorio Messiah. In addition to | | | | Studio Theatre) to provide a cozy setting for |
| opera, the house also served as an important | | | | smaller productions, and a complete makeover for |
| venue for ballet, theatrical dramas, pantomimes, | | | | the public areas that included drinking and dining |
| and comedy acts, usually performed by clowns. | | | | options. The current Royal Opera House holds |
| Throughout the 1800s, a number of European | | | | 2,268 seats in its auditorium, configured into main |
| composers-notables such as Rossini, Verdi and | | | | floor seating plus four levels of boxes and |
| Puccini-came to London to oversee the first | | | | balconies. |
| British production of their respective operas. | | | | |