Royal Opera House, Opera house in Covent Garden, United Kingdom.
The Royal Opera House is the third theatre on its Covent Garden site, built in 1857–1858 to designs by Edward Middleton Barry; its stone facade has six columns with ornate capitals under a triangular pediment. The auditorium seats 2,256 in four tiers of boxes and balconies plus the amphitheatre gallery, under a white dome with gold ribs. The proscenium is 14.80 m wide, the stage the same depth and 12.20 m high.
The first theatre at this location opened in 1732 and experienced several fires throughout its history. The present building was designed by Edward Middleton Barry and began operations in 1858.
The house is nicknamed Covent Garden after the fruit and vegetable market that occupied the site until 1974. Handel gave regular seasons here from 1735 until his death in 1759, and a Lenten oratorio tradition began with a royal performance of Messiah in 1743. Seasonal pantomime ran until 1939, with John Rich himself playing Harlequin.
The main auditorium holds 2,256 seats across four tiers of boxes and balconies plus the amphitheatre gallery, so sightlines and legroom vary by level. The proscenium is 14.80 m wide, the stage the same depth and 12.20 m high. The auditorium is Grade I listed, and the foyer and façade date from 1858 while most other parts were rebuilt in the 1990s.
The Paul Hamlyn Hall was built in 1860 as the Floral Hall and now serves as a glass-covered dining area. Guests can sometimes watch rehearsals taking place in adjacent rooms from there.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,393 contributors worldwide.
