- World Premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s operaFesten
- Eight new opera productions across two stages including:Eugene Onegin,The Tales of Hoffmann,Die Walküre,Semele,The Sound Voice Projectand a Bernstein double bill
- European Premiere of Wayne McGregor’sMaddAddam
- Eight works new to The Royal Ballet by choreographers including Christopher Wheeldon, Joseph Toonga and Pam Tanowitz
- 40 years of breaking down barriers with our pioneering learning programmes
- 11productions shown in 1,500 cinemas across the globe
- Tickets available from £3 – on sale from Wednesday 10 July
TheRoyal Ballet and Operatoday announces its 2024/25 Season. Opening on Monday 2 September 2024 under a new and combined organisational name, the Seasonfeatures a programme of bold new productions, alongside returning audience favourites, thrilling debuts and bright new voices.
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera, said:
“Today we announce a Season of extraordinary breadth and ambition – to audiences old and new, in schools and cinemas across the UK, and through streaming and digital media, right across the world. Bringing ballet into our name is long overdue – The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera have performed under the same roof since 1946 – and both companies now enjoy the prominence that they rightfully deserve. The whole of the Royal Ballet and Opera is far more than the sum of our parts. We may perform at the Royal Opera House, but three quarters of what we do is experienced by people outside this building and, as we mark 40 years of our Learning programme, the impact and influence of the Royal Ballet and Opera can be felt in every corner of the country.”
The evolution of its name, the Royal Ballet and Opera, celebrates the institution in its entirety, recognising the whole, not just one of its parts. Together, the Royal Ballet and Opera will continue to perform at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House, with performances shown in cinemas around the world, marking an exciting new era for the two companies as they enter a thrilling 2024/25 Season.
The Royal Opera 2024/25 Season
In an ambitious Season, eight new productions spanning three centuries are spread across the Main Stage and the Linbury Theatre, including the world premiere ofFesten.Based on Academy Award-winning filmmakerThomas Vinterberg’s 1998 cult film of the same name,Festeniscomposed byMark-Anthony Turnage(Greek,Anna Nicole,Coraline) with a libretto byLee Hall(Billy Elliot)and will be directed byRichard Jones.Previously a hit West End play, this darkest of comedy-dramas delves into the disturbing subject of abuse and generationaltrauma, with a cast includingAllan Clayton,Stéphane Degout,Gerald Finley,Eva-Maria Westbroek,Natalya Romaniwand more, withEdward Gardnerconducting.
Director of The Royal Opera, Oliver Mears, said:
“2024/25 is set to be a thrilling Season for opera here at the Royal Opera House. With the world premiere ofFesten,a brand-new commission by Mark-Anthony Turnage, we reaffirm our commitment to new opera; some of the greatest singers of our time perform alongside the most exciting voices of the future; and phenomenal creative teams bring unforgettable stories to life with eight new productions across both our stages. And as ever, our world-class Orchestra and Chorus will offer exactly the kind of intense, rich experiences that audiences are craving.”
In a year that has seenLeonard Bernsteincelebrated in mainstream cinema with the success of film biopicMaestro, his two major opera works will be staged at Covent Garden for the first time. The Linbury Theatreopera season opens with two of his semi-autobiographical operatic masterpieces,Trouble inTahitiandA Quiet Place,directed by Oliver Mears and conducted byNicholas Chalmers.
In the autumn,Ted Huffman(4.48: Psychosis) will make his Main Stage debut directing a new staging ofTchaikovsky’sEugene Onegin.Henrik NánásiconductsGordon Bintnerin the title role, withKristina Mkhitaryan(Tatyana),Liparit Avetisyan(Lensky), andAvery Amereau(Olga). Afterthe success ofCavalleria rusticana/PagliacciandCarmen,Damiano Michielettoreturns to Covent Garden to directOffenbach’s last and greatest work,The Tales of Hoffmann.Conducted byAntonello Manacorda,Juan Diego FlórezandLeonardo Caimishare the title role and are joined byAlex Esposito,Julie BoulianneandOlga Pudova,Marina Costa-Jackson, andErmonela Jahoin the three soprano roles.
Following the glittering triumph ofDas Rheingold,Barrie Koskydelves back intoWagner’s mythic universe with the second instalment of theRingcycle,Die Walküre.WithAntonio Pappanoleading from the podium,Christopher Maltmanreprises the role of Wotan, alongsideElisabet Strid(Brünnhilde),Lise Davidsen(Sieglinde), andStanislas de Barbeyrac(Siegmund).
Premiered in 1774,Semeleis the latest in ourHandelseries of operas and oratorios that were first performed at Covent Garden.Darkly satirical, this new production from Oliver Mears considers class, privilege and degradation. Handel specialistChristian Curnynconducts asPretty Yendemarks her return to Covent Garden in the title role, withBen Blissmaking his House debut as Jupiter.
Between Antonio Pappano’s departure as Music Director of The Royal Opera andJakub Hruša’s arrival in September 2025, this Season hosts them both. Hruša conductsCorinne Winters,Karita Mattila,Thomas AtkinsandNicky Spencein the revival ofClaus Guth’s Olivier Award-winning production ofJenůfa.Otherunmissable returning favourites include the first revivals ofTobias Kratzer’sFidelioconducted byAlexander SoddyandAdele Thomas’Il trovatoreconducted byGiacomo SagripantiandCarlo Rizzi.Aigul Akhmetshinareprises the role of Carmen alongsideFreddie De Tommaso,conducted byMark Elder.Ariane Matiakhconducts the second cast.
Commemorating the centenary ofPuccini’s death,Speranza Scappucci,Principal Guest Conductor Designate, leads her first Covent Garden stage production, Richard Jones’La bohème. Also returning isJonathan Kent’sToscastarringSonya Yoncheva,SeokJong BaekandBryn Terfel, conducted byEun Sun Kimin her House debut.Andrei Șerban’sTurandotisconducted byRafael PayareandFrancesco Ivan CiampawithSondra RadvanovskyandEwa Płonkain the title role.
The Season opens with revivals ofRichard Eyre’sLa traviataandDavid McVicar’sThe Marriage of Figarowhich seesJulia Jonesconducting rising starsYing FangandHuw Montague RendallalongsideJacquelyn StuckerandLuca Micheletti. Completing the Season are David McVicar’sFaustwithStefan Pop,Erwin SchrottandLisette Oropesain the main roles andRobert Carsen’sAida.For Christmas,Antony McDonald’s story-book production ofHansel and Gretelis conducted byGiedrė Šlekytėwho makes her House debut.
In the autumn, the Linbury Theatre will presentThe Sound Voice Project.Withmusic byHannah Conway,thisinternationally award-winning opera-video installationfeatures a libretto byHazel Gouldand performances byRoderick WilliamsandLucy Crowe,raising questions about how we make ourselves heard, how we listen, and which voices are invited to the stage.
Continuing ourBrittenodyssey, impassioned opera meets dreamlike dance in a Royal Ballet and Opera double production ofPhaedra + Minotaur, a collaboration with award-winning directorDeborah Warnerand choreographerKim Brandstrup. Last performed as part of4/4(2020), the work seesChristine Ricereprise her Olivier award-nominated role – expertly harnessing Phaedra’s eroticism and despair.TheJette Parker Artistsprogrammewelcomes seven talented newcomers who will perform on stage throughout the year, as well as bringing their talents to a lively new production ofTelemann’sPimpinonein the Linbury Theatre.
In the summer, the award-winning, interactive, multi-sensory opera for toddlers and babiesCatch a Sea Star, will be staged in theClore Studio. With music fromJ.S.Bach, children can step into an enchanting underworld realm of mermaids and sea monsters.
The Royal Ballet2024/25 Season
In 2024/25The Royal Ballet presents a diverse programme of works that celebrate the Company’s rich heritage while featuring groundbreaking creations by some of the world’s leading choreographers and creative teams.
Following the landmark success ofWoolf WorksandThe Dante Project,Wayne McGregorreturns with the European premiere ofMaddAddam.Combining forces of contemporary dance, music, fashion and literary worlds,Margaret Atwood’s monumental trilogy of novels (Oryx and Crake, The Year of the FloodandMaddAddam)comes alive in this thrilling visceral three-act ballet. With a specially commissioned score by celebrated composerMax Richterand costume design byGareth Pugh,it promises to be a spectacular experience.
In October,Encounters: Four Contemporary Balletsfeatures the work of four distinctive choreographers championed by The Royal Ballet on the Main Stage. Experience a spectrum of human emotion beginning withKyle Abraham’s gentle meditation on love, loss and memory inThe Weathering. Four characters battle for control inCrystal Pite’s gripping boardroom dramaThe Statement. ExpandingDispatch Duet, which received critical acclaim on its premiere in 2022,Pam Tanowitzemploys her trademark style to turn the conventions of dance inside out.Joseph Toongapresents his second Main Stage work for the Company where the idioms of classical ballet and hip-hop converge.
Masses of dancers move as a mesmerising whole inCrystal Pite’sLight of Passagewhich receives its first revival in February. Grappling with themes of safe passage, displacement, community and mortality, this award-winning work is set toGorecki’s affectingSymphony of Sorrowful Songs– a reminder of the power of human connection in our turbulent times.
Wonderland becomes wondrously real as the ballet Season opens with two Technicolor adaptations ofLewis Carroll’s popular children’s story,Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland– both of which will be part of ourSchools’ Matineeroster. On the Main Stage, The Royal Ballet’s Artistic AssociateChristopher Wheeldon’sinterpretation partners with magical music by composerJoby Talbotand whimsical designs byBobCrowley. Powerhouse storytellersZooNation: The Kate Prince Companyreturn to the Linbury Theatre withThe Mad Hatter’s Tea Party,transforming Carroll’s Wonderland into a dysfunctional institution in this energetic hip-hop show featuring original music and family-friendly storytelling.
Christopher Wheeldon’s versatility as a choreographer is showcased in a new mixed programme –Ballet to Broadway–where sensuous contemporary ballet meets the energy of musical theatre. Luminescent and shimmering,Fool’s Paradisemarked the first of his many collaborations with composer Joby Talbot. Three works follow, new to The Royal Ballet. Recognising Wheeldon’s extraordinary success in musical theatre, the Company performs the ballet from his Tony Award-winning musicalAn American in Paris, set toGershwin’s jazzy melodies. Its zesty spirit is contrasted with two duets of intimacy and yearning. The wistful songs ofJoni Mitchellset the scene forThe Two of Us, while the music ofKeaton Hensonis used in the tender duet fromUsthat Wheeldon created forBalletBoyzin 2017.
WhenGeorge Balanchinearrived on the shores of America, he changed the landscape of 20th-century ballet. Pushing the boundaries of the art form with extreme speed, dynamism and athleticism, he defined the American neoclassical style. WithBalanchine: Three Signature Works, The Royal Ballet present a triptych of distinctive pieces in one programme.Serenadewas the first ballet he created in America, and its ethereal beauty is contrasted with the avant-gardeProdigal Son, a parable of sin and redemption.Symphony in Cwith its symmetrical formations and crystalline placements will bring this programme to a majestic and exhilarating close.
The Royal Ballet bringsShakespeare’s young lovers vividly to life with the return ofKenneth MacMillan’sRomeo and Juliet, a modern classic that celebrates its 60thanniversary.Prokofiev’s glorious score feeds this epic tragedy, sweeping the ballet towards its inevitable and devastating conclusion.
Also marking 60 years since its creation,John Cranko’s 1965 take onPushkin’s novelOneginreturns to the Main Stage. Set to an arrangement ofTchaikovsky’s heartbreaking score, Cranko’s expressive choreography results in a sumptuous period ballet.
For Christmas,Cinderellacontinues to cast its spell. This enchanting work by The Royal Ballet’s Founding Choreographer Frederick Ashton, with evocative music by Prokofiev and some spectacular stagecraft, is a rich theatrical experience not to be missed. In the Linbury Theatre, nothing says Christmas like a Greek tragedy:Ben DukeandLost Dog’s electric and darkly hilarious work of dance theatre set to live music,Ruination,returns, turning the classic Greek myth of Medea on its head.
In the Linbury Theatre, the Company continues its commitment to honing new and diverse choreographic and performing talent. In October, First Soloist of The Royal BalletJoseph Sissensis the driving force behindLegacy, a celebration of Black and Brown dancers from all over the world. In the spring,International Draft Worksreturns, gathering burgeoning choreographers from all over the world, revealing how the art form is ever changing and evolving. Closing the Season, celebrating both national and international talent, theNext Generation Festivalis a showcase for the diversity and range of global performing talent presented by a selection of junior companies and dance schools.
Across the Season, the Linbury Theatre welcomes returning guest companies includingNorthern Ballet,Acosta DanzaandBallet Black.TheBallet Black: Heroesmixed programme will include anew work,If at First, by Choreographer-in-Residence at Scottish BalletSophie Laplane, that explores the complexity of humanity, heroism and self-acceptance.
Director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O’Hare, said:
“An electrifying Season lies ahead as we stage thrilling works new to the Company, crafted by creatives at the forefront of choreographic innovation. The breadth of the Company’s artistry is highlighted in revivals of rich repertory favourites alongside a Linbury Season that welcomes guest collaborators and bright burgeoning talents. As ever, audiences will have the chance to witness world-class performances by our remarkable dancers. There really is something for everyone.”
Inspiring creativity across the UK
- 40 years at the forefront of arts education
- Reaching more than 45,000 students across the UK
- Seven Schools’ Matinees
In 2025, the Royal Ballet and Opera celebrates 40 years of pioneering learning programming as it unveils its biggest year of learning initiatives to date. Over the past year the schools programme has grown from 1,575 schools to 2,710, working with more than 46,000 students, 1500 teachers and 700 schools to inspire creativity and open access to the arts across the UK.
These programmes sit alongside on-going projects in communities up and down the country including regional partnerships with Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture, Rotherham, Children’s Capital of Culture 2025 and a new focused initiatives in the east of England.
Jillian Barker, Director of Learning and Participation, Royal Ballet and Opera explains:
“Our vision is to work towards creativity for every child. At a time when arts education in schools is squeezed and specialist teachers are in decline, it is more important than ever to strive to reach more children and young people. We are redoubling efforts to offer high quality opportunities to any primary school in the country, inspiring children and building the creative confidence of teachers and opening the opportunity to discover ballet and opera. We are working to diversify young dancers and singers. And we want ROH to be a place of creative adventure, welcoming to all, particularly families.”
This Season, the Royal Ballet and Opera will continue to offer a range of programmes to enhance arts education, spark creativity, and improve access to the arts for all. These learning and community-based initiatives include:
- Extending its flagship programme to reach more schools nationwide, offeringfree resourcesto help teachers and students be creatively confident in the classroom. This Season will also introduce new live streamed lessons into schools from the Companies and artists of the Royal Ballet and Opera.
- The return ofCreate Day, a large single national school event, held in partnership withUNICEF RRSA UK(Rights Respecting Schools Alliance), bringing together 30,000 children in person and virtually in a celebration of everything they have learned.
- Hosting sevenSchools’ Matineesacross the Season, giving children from across the UK the chance to experience a live production at the Royal Opera House with heavily discounted tickets and travel grants.
- TheCreative Exchange programme– partnerships with commonly underrepresented groups in the arts to create a collaborative performance piece representing different life experiences.
- Growing the reach of itsChance to Danceprogramme, where the Royal Ballet and Opera partner with local dance and primary schools in areas with limited artistic provision to introduce young people to ballet.
- TheYouth Opera Company, where over 100 state school children have the chance to work with Royal Ballet and Opera artists, performing on the Main Stage in productions includingCarmenandHansel and Gretel.
The Royal Ballet and Opera also continues to invest in future talent and professional development through initiatives such as the specialist apprenticeship programme, which will see the number of participants double this Season. Remaining one of the largest employers of artistic professionals in the UK, the apprentices join 1,044 full or part time staff, 2,060 contractors who are consistently employed, and freelancers or commissioned staff.
The fostering of talent and diversity is also seen in our secondOverturecohort in partnership withBlack Lives in Music, beginning in Autumn 2024. The year-long mentorship by players in the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is available to young musicians aged 18-25 from the global majority or other underrepresented backgrounds. The scheme provides support tailored to the participants’ individual needs, enhancing skill sets, insight and training in the classical music field.
The Royal Ballet and Opera also present 11 productions in 1500 cinemas across the globe next Season, including such beloved classics asCinderella,The NutcrackerandThe Marriage of Figaroand exciting new productions ofThe Tales of HoffmannandDie Walküre.
The 2024/2025 Season’s ambitious work contributes to the enduring influence of the Royal Ballet and Opera, with a recent study finding it has one of the largest economic impacts on the ACE’s National Portfolio. Whether it is welcoming audiences from across the globe to experience magic on its stages or inspiring creativity in classrooms across the UK, the Royal Ballet and Opera celebrates everything that the arts bring to UK society, looking boldly ahead to a new and exciting Season of world-class productions.
