BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Royal Opera's 60 years

BBC NEWS / IN PICTURES
Graphics Version BBC Sport Home

Monday, 22 January 2007, 08:49 GMT

In pictures: Royal Opera's 60 years

1 of 10
The internationally renowned Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden is launching a special exhibition to celebrate the Royal Opera's 60th anniversary at the venue.

Dame Eva Turner and company in Turandot, 1947

Dame Eva Turner and company in Turandot, 1947

2 of 10
Among the many production photographs on display in the Amphitheatre Gallery include this shot of Dame Eva Turner (foreground) in her farewell performance as Turandot in 1947.

Kirsten Flagstad and Hans Hotter in Die Walkure, 1948 (Roger Wood Collection)

Kirsten Flagstad and Hans Hotter in Die Walkure, 1948 (Roger Wood Collection)

3 of 10
The exhibition also includes this photograph of the German bass-baritone Hans Hotter (right) making his Covent Garden debut as Wotan in Wagner's Die Walkure in 1948.

The cast of Billy Budd, 1951 (Roger Wood Collection)

The cast of Billy Budd, 1951 (Roger Wood Collection)

4 of 10
One of the notable successes of the Royal Opera's first decade was its production of Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd, first performed on the Covent Garden stage in 1951.

Maria Callas and Mirto Picchi in Norma, 1952 (Roger Wood Collection)

Maria Callas and Mirto Picchi in Norma, 1952 (Roger Wood Collection)

5 of 10
Maria Callas' performances at Covent Garden are now the stuff of legend. This picture shows her with Mirto Picchi (right) in a 1952 production of Bellini's Norma.

Amy Shuard in Turandot, 1963 (Donald Southern Collection)

Amy Shuard in Turandot, 1963 (Donald Southern Collection)

6 of 10
Among the more tangible exhibits on display include the sumptuous costume designed by Cecil Beaton for soprano Amy Shuard for a 1963 production of Puccini's Turandot.

Gwyneth Jones and Bruno Prevedi in Il Trovatore, 1964 (Donald Southern Collection)

Gwyneth Jones and Bruno Prevedi in Il Trovatore, 1964 (Donald Southern Collection)

7 of 10
The celebrated British talents featured include Dame Gwyneth Jones (left), who achieved overnight fame when she appeared in this 1964 production of Verdi's Il Trovatore.

Norman Bailey in Siegfried, 1980/81 (Donald Southern Collection)

Norman Bailey in Siegfried, 1980/81 (Donald Southern Collection)

8 of 10
Norman Bailey's dramatic make-up befits the role of The Wanderer in this photograph from the Royal Opera's 1980/81 revival of Siegfried, the third part of Wagner's epic Ring cycle.

Montsarrat Caballe and Luciano Pavarotti in Un ballo in maschera, 1980/81 (Donald Southern Collection)

Montsarrat Caballe and Luciano Pavarotti in Un ballo in maschera, 1980/81 (Donald Southern Collection)

9 of 10
No celebration of the Royal Opera House would be complete without Luciano Pavarotti (right), seen here with Montserrat Caballe in the 1980/81 revival of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.

Simon Keenlyside in The Tempest, 2004 (photo Clive Barda)

Simon Keenlyside in The Tempest, 2004 (photo Clive Barda)

10 of 10
More contemporary productions featured include the 2004 premiere of Thomas Adès' The Tempest. The exhibition runs at the Royal Opera House from 22 January to 22 July.

E-mail this to a friend

Related to this story:
Dawn French to make opera debut (19 Dec 06 | Entertainment )
Pensions warning from opera house (03 Nov 06 | Business )
Opera house rehires 'fat' soprano (09 Jul 06 | Entertainment )
Curtain rises on new Tosca opera (13 Jun 06 | Entertainment )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Royal Opera House
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites