The Orchestra accompanies The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet on the Main Stage under the music direction of Antonio Pappano (The Royal Opera) and Koen Kessels (The Royal Ballet).
The Orchestra is renowned worldwide for its outstanding musicians, and the distinguished roster of international conductors with whom it has played. In 2019 they won ‘Opera Orchestra of the Year’ in the International Opera Awards. They have also toured with The Royal Opera to Japan and performed at venues including Symphony Hall (Birmingham), Cadogan Hall and the Vienna Konzerthaus
The Orchestra accompanies performances that are streamed all over the world, including through cinema screenings and broadcasts. They appear on many CDs and DVDs including Pappano’s acclaimed studio recording of Tristan und Isolde with Plácido Domingo and Nina Stemme.
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House was founded in 1946 when the Royal Opera House reopened after World War II.
First Violins
Kaoru Yamada
Helen Briscoe
Ailsa Hunter
John Lovell
Katherine Wilson
David Hanesworth
David Butler
Mark Greensill
Amelia Conway-Jones
Jonathan Hartley
Second Violins
Anna Blackmur
Marion McGowan
Stuart James
Helena Roques
Ksenia Berezina
Chloe Boireau
David Chadwick
Kirsten Shlomowitz
Violas
Amelie Roussel
Konstantin Boyarsky
Judith Busbridge
Rebecca Brown
Emmanuella Reiter
Duncan Commin
Lucy Yendole
Felicity Matthews
Cellos
Christopher Vanderspar
Gundula Leitner
Andrew Gunn
Liubov Ulybysheva
Tim Hewitt-Jones
Mark Bethel
Lauren Steel
Tessa Seymour
Rhydian Shaxson
Double Basses
Tony Hougham
Paul Kimber
Marco Behtash
David Peller
Simon Hetherington
Simon Hallett
Martin Vigay
Catharina Feyen
Flutes
Katherine Baker
Margaret Campbell
Katharine Constable
Piccolos
Christopher Green
Philip Rowson
Oboes
Chris Cowie
Margaret Tindale
Cor Anglais
Alan Garner
Clarinet
Matthew Glendening
E-flat Clarinet
Fergus Morrison
Bass Clarinet
Marina Finnamore
Bassoons
Andrea De Flammineis
Sarah Andrew
Horns
Philip Munds
David Pyatt
Huw Evans
Roger Montgomery
Richard Bissill
Jonathan Durrant
Richard Kennedy
Trumpets
Nicholas Betts
David Carstairs
John Shaddock
Cornet
Daniel Newell
Trombones
Lindsay Shilling
Michael Hext
Robert Holliday
Bass Trombones
Patrick Jackman
Keith McNicoll
Timpani
Russell Jordan
Chris Ridley
Simon Archer
Percussion
Henry Baldwin
Nigel Charman
Nicholas Ormrod
Simon Archer
Harps
Emma Granger
Lucy Wakeford
Head of Orchestra Administration
Helen Dunne
Orchestra Manager
Claire Bayliss
Assistant Orchestra Managers
- Helena Archer
- Kirsten Cross
- Rebecca Eldridge (maternity cover)
Orchestra Administration and Project Coordinator
Rebecca Newman
Management Accountant
Fabio Lodato
Orchestra Production Manager
Ross Hendrie
Orchestra Operations Manager
Nick Burke
Assistant Orchestra Operations Managers
- Jessica Cooling
- Bethany Wickens
Music Library Managers
- Julie Cook
- Tony Rickard
Music Librarians
- Robin Gordon-Powell
- Emma Syrus
- Joanna Taylor
Music Librarian/Music Library Assistant
Hannah Gray
Orchestra Mentorship Scheme
For the first time, we are offering young musicians the opportunity to be mentored by a member of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)