Telephone, personal and on-line booking on http://www.royaloperahouse.org opens 14 July 2004.

Supported by Arts Council England

An Introduction by Deborah Bull

In its third full season, the Royal Opera House's newest department, ROH2, will continue to present a varied and complementary programme of work, ROHToo, in the theatre's alternative performance spaces. Established to present and produce new art which develops new artists and brings new audiences to the Royal Opera House, ROH2 collaborates closely with The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet and other departments involved in creative projects and continues to build a range of partnerships with companies and artists who can contribute to achieving these aims. Alongside our existing Associates – Cathy Marston, Professor Patrick Haggard, Music Theatre Wales and Walker Dance Park Music – we are delighted to announce that the composer Dominique Le Gendre has agreed to become an Associate Artist of the Royal Opera House. Dominique was one of the nine composers who took part in A NITRO at the Opera and we are currently agreeing with her a programme of work over the next three years which will include a commission for the Linbury Studio Theatre from The Royal Opera.

The season opens in the Linbury Studio Theatre with Firsts. Building on the success of last year's Festival of Firsts, Firsts is sponsored once again by Lady Helen Hamlyn in memory of her late husband, Paul. Over the course of a week, Firsts presents small-scale companies and independent artists new to the Royal Opera House in a diverse and exciting menu of performance for young adult audiences with a single ticket price of £5.

October sees the first performances of this season's Chamber Opera programme in the Linbury Studio Theatre. In two separate visits, our Associate Company, Music Theatre Wales, will present the world premiere performances of Nigel Osborne's The Piano Tuner (a co-commission between the ROH and MTW) and The Knot Garden, produced with the Royal Opera House to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Michael Tippett. The Royal Opera will continue to explore the Linbury Studio Theatre as a chamber opera venue in Francisco Negrin's production of Philip Glass's opera, Orphée. John Browne's opera for young people, Babette's Feast, will be revived by The Royal Opera and in January 2005 the nine new works written by Black British composers for last year's A NITRO at the Opera will return to the Linbury Studio Theatre. Completing the programme will be a return visit from Théâtre Français de la musique in an opera by Stavros Xarhakos, the official composer of the Olympic Games and the French playwright, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. Le Visiteur was written in 2000 and has already played to great success in the company's home base of Compiegne.

As one of the diverse dance elements in the ROHToo programme The Royal Ballet will perform a programme of new works in the Linbury Studio Theatre. As part of Ashton 100, choreographers from within and without the Company will be invited by The Royal Ballet to create works inspired by Ashton and the company's Founder Music Director Constant Lambert. The Royal Opera House's Associate Artist, Cathy Marston, will undertake a period of research and development for a full-evening work to be premiered in the 2005/6 Season. Companies new to the ROHToo programme in the Linbury include Siobhan Davies Dance Company (as part of Dance Umbrella) and Kim Brandstrup's Arc Dance Company. The Royal Ballet School will once again present the Young British Dancer Competition as well as their annual summer season and will also host a return visit by American Ballet Theatre's studio company to the Linbury, ABTII.

The ROHToo programme will continue to include a range of small-scale dance performance in the Clore Studio Upstairs alongside evenings of choreographic experiment – First Drafts – from members of The Royal Ballet. Newly returned to the UK after eight years as Artist in Residence at Kunstencentrum Vooruit in Ghent, Belgium, Jonathan Burrows will take over the space for a series of performances of his highly acclaimed Both Sitting Duet, with composer Matteo Fargion. For the second year, the Summer Collection in the Clore will present a wide variety of contemporary dance over the summer months.

Away from the stages, we will continue to explore unconventional performance opportunities. For the third year running, Dancing Houses will reveal the building afresh through site-specific choreography as part of London Open House. A new initiative will see ROH2 collaborate with Insight Arts, an organisation bringing together ex-offenders with award-winning artists. A site-specific video installation inspired by the interaction of ex-offenders with this major arts organisation will enliven unexpected corners of the Royal Opera House.

Alongside these highlights, the ROHToo programme will continue to include established events in the 2004/5 Season. The Soloists of the Royal Opera House will play a series of concerts in the Vilar Floral Hall. The Vilar Young Artists will present a range of performances, recitals and workshop programmes in the Linbury Studio Theatre. Free lunchtime recitals remain a permanent Monday feature, presenting members of The Royal Opera and of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. A range of guest companies will add to the programme in the Linbury. Black History Month will be celebrated with events in the Linbury Studio Theatre and Clore Studio Upstairs as well as a special exhibition. Springboard will offer a platform for work by and for young people in the Linbury and the Clore will continue to provide a space where independent artists, small-scale companies and Royal Opera House artists can experiment and collaborate across the art forms.

ROHTOO SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

FIRSTS
A second season introducing talented artists new to the Royal Opera House Sponsored by the Helen Hamlyn Trust in memory of Paul Hamlyn September 2004 Encompassing a wide range of disciplines across the lyric arts, Firsts will see small-scale companies and independent artists from a wide range of performing arts take over the Linbury Studio Theatre for a week of diverse and exciting performance, attracting young audiences to the Royal Opera House.

MUSIC THEATRE WALES
THE PIANO TUNER
October 2004
Music Theatre Wales and the Royal Opera House have co-commissioned The Piano Tuner from Nigel Osborne with libretto by Amanda Holden based on Daniel Mason's novel. Music Theatre Wales present the world premiere performances on their fourth visit to the Linbury Studio Theatre as an Associate Company of the Royal Opera House. For further information on Music Theatre Wales: http://www.musictheatrewales.org.uk

INSIGHT ARTS
November 2004
A new initiative will see ROH2 collaborate with Insight Arts, an organisation bringing together ex-offenders with award-winning artists. A site-specific video installation inspired by the interaction of ex-offenders with this major arts organisation will enliven unexpected corners of the building.

JONATHAN BURROWS
November 2004
Jonathan Burrows will take over the Clore Studio Upstairs for a series of performances of his highly acclaimed Both Sitting Duet, with composer Matteo Fargion.

ARC DANCE COMPANY
November 2004
To mark the 200th Anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen in 1805, Kim Brandstrup, director of Arc, will create a new full evening work exploring the life and work of the author. It will be seen in the UK before touring in Denmark in the bicentenary year.

REVIVAL OF A NITRO AT THE OPERA COMMISSIONS
January 2005
Linbury Studio Theatre
Further performances of new writing for the classical voice by black British composers: Three fully-staged chamber operas - Errolyn Wallen's Another America: Ear h, Clement Ishmael's Grazyna, and Dominique Le Gendre's Bird of N ght - as well as arias and duets from Alex Wilson, Ola Onabule, Nicky Brown, Tunde Jegede, Dainty Drysdale and Orphy Robinson. These works were created in 2003 for the Royal Opera House and NITRO's A NITRO at the Opera.

BABETTE'S FEAST
March 2005
The Royal Opera brings John Browne's engrossing opera for children (8+) and adults back to the Linbury Studio Theatre. Originally commissioned by ROH Education, it retells a 19th-century Norwegian tale with resonances for every age, using the Linbury Studio Theatre in an exciting configuration devised by the production team of director, Tim Supple and designer, Tom Piper to bring action close to the audience.

THÉÂTRE FRANÇAIS DE LA MUSIQUE
LE VISITEUR
April 2005
As part of the Chamber Opera programme Théâtre Français de la Musique return to the Linbury Studio Theatre with Stavros Xarhakos's Le Visiteur, based on an enthralling play by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt about Freud and a mysterious visitor, directed by Pierre Jourdan. For more information about Le Visiteur and Théâtre Français de la Musique http://www.theatre-imperial.com/programme2003/le_visiteur_gb.htm

MUSIC THEATRE WALES
THE KNOT GARDEN
May 2005
A new production of The Knot Garden in the centenary year of Sir Michael Tippett produced by Music Theatre Wales with the Royal Opera House in the Linbury Studio Theatre. Music Theatre Wales is an Associate Company of the Royal Opera House.

THE ROYAL OPERA in the Linbury Studio Theatre
ORPHÉE
May 2005
Orphée is the first trilogy of music theatre pieces that Philip Glass wrote in the 1990's based on films by Jean Cocteau. Orphée – Orpheus transformed into a trendy French poet – goes on his journey into the afterlife, accompanied by Philip Glass's mesmeric music. The exciting producer/ designer team of Francisco Negrin and Es Devlin create the British premiere production, with a cast of young singers, and members of the Royal Opera House orchestra conducted by Vilar Young Artist Rory Macdonald.

THE ROYAL BALLET in the Linbury Studio Theatre
June 2005
To mark the centenaries of Frederick Ashton, the Company's Founder choreographer and Constant Lambert, Founder Music Director, The Royal Ballet will invite choreographers to create new work for the Linbury Studio Theatre taking inspiration from their work.

EXHIBITIONS FROM THE ROYAL OPERA ARCHIVES 2004/05 SEASON

FREDERICK ASHTON , Founder Choreographer of The Royal Ballet
September 2004 – July 2005

A series of changing exhibitions throughout the season will celebrate the centenary of the birth of Frederick Ashton. There will be two main themes:

Frederick Ashton and The Royal Ballet will focus on the ballets being revived by The Royal Ballet during the centenary year, bringing together set and costume designs, model sets and production photographs from earlier productions of ballets such as A Wedding Bouquet, Daphnis and Chloë, Sylvia, La Fille mal gardée, Enigma Variations and A Month in the Country.

Frederick Ashton, the young dancer and choreographer will consider his early life and influences as well as the early years with the Vic-Wells (Sadler's Wells) Ballet up until 1946. The exhibition will draw on material from two specialist collections within the Archives; the Frederick Ashton Collection and the Leslie Edwards Collection and will include personal photographs and correspondence not previously placed on public display.

THE ORCHESTRA OF THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

September – November 2004
This exhibition, part of the National Orchestra Festival, will examine the history of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and its music directors through photographs and historic instruments. The work of the current Orchestra, under Music Director Antonio Pappano, will be portrayed through watercolours and specially commissioned photographs.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH
October 2004
An exhibition in the Piazza link will celebrate the contribution of Black Artists during the 2003/04 season as well as previewing performances as part of this year's Black History Month.

MICHAEL TIPPETT AND THE ROYAL OPERA
January 2005
An exhibition to mark the centenary of the birth of the composer Michael Tippett will examine his work with The Royal Opera including The Midsummer Marriage, King Priam, The Knot Garden and The Ice Break.

Exhibitions can be viewed during normal daytime opening Monday – Saturday 10.00am - 3.30pm as well as by ticket holders during performances.

ROH EDUCATION PLANS FOR 2004/5

Education has become an intrinsic and vital part of the Royal Opera House's work, introducing many thousands of people to opera and ballet and providing opportunities for both adults and young people to explore new ideas and develop their artistic and creative abilities. The education programme is based on a number of distinctive, large projects that reflect the expertise of the education team, current trends within the arts and education sectors and the unique strengths of the Royal Opera House. These include Schools Matinees, Chance to Dance, Write an Opera - now under the Creative Teachers banner, Turtle Opera, Behind the Scenes, Insight programme, Floral Dance, Family Events and many others.

SCHOOLS MATINÉES Schools Matinees are an extremely successful feature of the Royal Opera House's work. Next Season's performances, with all seats £6, will be: La traviata, Turandot, Die Zauberflöte; Cinderella, Manon and a mixed bill including A Wedding Bouquet and Les Noces. All matinées offer web-based support material, a free 'study day' at the Royal Opera House for teachers and a free programme for every student. Les Noces is a set work for A Level Dance, so an extensive teachers' pack and practical workshop programme have been prepared.

CHANCE TO DANCE
With support from the Shauna Gosling Trust

Chance to Dance was established over 12 years ago to introduce a more ethnically diverse population to the world of ballet. Since then many thousands of children aged 7- 11 have participated in dance workshops and attended demonstrations by Royal Ballet dancers. An intensive scholarship programme of ballet classes for 200 children without previous training, runs Monday - Saturday inclusive throughout the year.

INSIGHT PROGRAMME
These events aim to introduce and illuminate aspects of Royal Opera House productions. The annual programme comprises approximately 60 different daytime and evening events.

Highlights of the season include:
A Wedding Bouquet mixed programme - Saturday 2 October 10.30 - 16.00
La forza del destino - Saturday 9 October 10.30 - 16.00
Musical Awakening for the Family - Wednesday 27 October 10.30- 12.30
Scène de ballet, Divertissements, Daphnis and Chloë - Saturday 6 November 10.30 - 16.00
Introduction to Ballet - Saturday 4 December 10.30 - 16.00

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE ON THE ROAD
With support from the Eva and Hans K Rausing Trust and the Headley Trust,
plus additional funding from Arts Council England

Rather than a specific project, this illustrates an increased commitment to taking the work of the Royal Opera House beyond London. Support from the Eva and Hans Rausing Trust and the Headley Trust, plus additional funding from Arts Council England, will enable ROH Education to substantially increase its work with groups across Britain. A distinctive, specially equipped minibus will be launched to mark the start of this new initiative.

Partnerships with local regions are key to the success of this work and so ROH Education is building on existing relationships with Kent, Sunderland, Cumbria and, through Arts Council England South West, with the West of England including Cornwall. Work with schools and local communities will continue throughout the year, with plans to include small-scale performances and recitals by Royal Opera House artists in subsequent years.

CREATIVE TEACHERS
The Creative Teachers programme is a strategic way of supporting good practice in schools. It is in line with the current Government emphasis on creativity and enables ROH Education to make a substantial contribution to the formal education system, adding value to the arts education of large numbers of young people. This approach, unique to the Royal Opera House, has been developed from existing strands of ROH Education's work with teachers in Britain, Scandinavia and South Africa, incorporating a number of different projects that offer training, continuing professional development and support for teachers. From April 2004 onwards, the programme will be offered as a core part of ROH on the Road.

TURTLE OPERA
With support from The Band Trust
Work with adults and young people on the autistic spectrum
Another specialist area is work with young people with autism. Turtle Opera run in collaboration with Turtle Key Arts, has been tested and refined over four years, with heavy investment in both staff and artist training and in evaluation. The project will run for a fifth year with plans to extend the Royal Opera House based Turtle Opera project to include some work with the parents and siblings of project participants, to take the project beyond London and to continue the academic research into the effectiveness of work in the arts on young people with autism.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE ARTISTS
Several major initiatives are in place to train, involve and provide creative opportunities for Royal Opera House artists to work within an educational context.

Rhythm in Motion provides continuing professional development for members of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Having received training in leading workshops with young people, they then combine these new skills with their performance skills to deliver practical sessions in primary schools.

An exciting collaboration with Southbank Sinfonia will enable members of the Royal Opera House Orchestra to work together in education with young, graduate musicians. For more information consult the Orchestra and Soloists 2004/5 press release.

Former Royal Ballet First Soloist Jane Burn is now working with ROH Education as Artist in Education, involved in all aspects of the department's work.

NEW TECHNOLOGY
The launch last year of the new CD ROM In2Arts: Opera introduced the work of the Royal Opera House into every secondary school in England. Further development this Season has produced a complete educational package, with links through the Specialist Schools Trust to 1686 schools, training in the use of this technology for teachers and a specially developed website that, while using Peter Grimes as an example, aims to provide an overview of the work of the Royal Opera House, focusing on how a production is selected, commissioned, scheduled, produced, rehearsed and performed.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE PRICING STRUCTURE 2004/5

For the 2004/5 Season we are delighted to announce The Travelex £10 Mondays:

The Royal Opera House and Travelex, the world's largest foreign exchange specialist, today announced today a £1 million sponsorship agreement. This sponsorship will run for three years and will begin with the Royal Opera House 2004/05 Season.

Travelex will provide 100 top price tickets every Monday for half the season for just £10, some 2000 seats in total. That 100 top price tickets will be sold one and a half hours before the performance, and we are currently seeking ways to ensure that these seats are available to as many people as possible. The seats are located in the stalls and stalls circle area of the auditorium. In some cases this would represent a saving of up to £165 on the price of the ticket.

Other pricing highlights are:

• For the fourth Season in succession at least half of the tickets for every performance by The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet will cost £50 or less

• Ballet prices reduced –

Average ticket price for ballet has been reduced by 7%

There is no increase for any top price seat to performances by The Royal Ballet this season.

Both the top price and the average price of tickets for mixed programme is reduced by 25%

The top price for the new production of Ashton's full-length ballet Sylvia will be £70

• For the second season we will be offering some stalls seats at a reduced rate

• All seats for The Olivier award winning The Greek Passion and for the world premiere of 1984 will cost £50 or less

• Firsts – a season of small scale companies and independent artist new to the ROH in the Linbury - all tickets £5

• The top price for opera rises in line with inflation from £170 to £175 (2.9%)

• In the 2004/5 Season there will be 140 performances by The Royal Opera and 121 performances by The Royal Ballet. Ballet performance numbers are lower than usual in order to introduce a new performance schedule for The Royal Ballet at the beginning of the 2005/6 Season. 10

PRICES FOR THE ROYAL OPERA 2004/5 SEASON

La forza del destino, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Un ballo in maschera, Otello £8, £13, £26, £34,. £44, £50, £67, £140, £150, £160, £175

La rondine, Turandot, La traviata, Madama Butterfly, Il turco in Italia, Rigoletto, La bohème £7, £11, £22, £28, £41, £49, £50, £65, £115, £130, £135, £160

Werther, Così fan tutte, Faust, Don Pasquale, D e Zauberflöte and matinées of Turandot, La traviata, Rigoletto i £7, £11, £21, £27, £36, £45, £50, £63, £95, £115, £125, £150

La Gioconda £6, £9, £15, £22, £30, £42, £47, £55, £70, £85, £95, £110

Mitridate re di Ponto £4, £8, £15, £20, £30, £40, £45, £55, £70, £80, £90, £100

Matinée performances of Così fan tutte, Don Pasquale £6, £8, £14, £20, £29, £39, £44, £57, £70, £75, £85, £95

The Greek Passion, 1984 £4, £5, £8,£15, £26, £36, £36, £46, £50, £50, £50, £50

PRICES FOR THE ROYAL BALLET

Cinderella, Swan Lake, Manon £5, £8, £11, £15, £30, £40, £45, £55, £60, £70, £75, £82

La Fille mal gardée, Ondine £4, £7, £10, £13, £27, £35, £40, £50, £40, £50, £55, £60, £65, £75

Sylvia £4, £6, £8, £12, £25, £30, £35, £40, £50, £55, £60, £70

Mixed Programmes £4, £5, £5, £10, £15, £20, £27.50, £30, £40, £40, £50, £50

Matinées of Sylvia, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Manon, Ondine, £4, £6, £7, £10, £16, £22< £27.50, £30, £40, £40, £40, £45, £55

SUCCESS OF ON-LINE TICKETING Royal Opera House introduced on-line ticketing in August 2003. Within six months online ticketing has proved to be a highly popular means of obtaining tickets, accounting for 35% of all ticket sales, 71% of on-line bookers are first time attenders to the Royal Opera House. This does not include The Friends of Covent Garden.