A truly packed house, a cast of operatic luminaries and a program of works chosen and compiled by Maestro Pappano himself; a Gala, fit for a KING, surely? Which is just as well because His Royal Highness King Charles III was in the audience as a truly surprise guest of honor, courtesy of a massive covert security operation that even rendered the cast themselves clueless as to the King’s attendance, right up until 20 minutes before curtain-up! The rest of us were only made aware of a Royal presence when Pappano struck up the orchestra with the National Anthem, “God save the King” at the start of the evening. The Monarch, who has been Patron of the Royal Opera House since 2009 and President of the Royal Ballet since 2003, was welcomed on stage at the cessation of the evenings proceedings by the conductor, where he was loudly cheered by all. His Majesty appeared most pleased, as well he might.
This was a night of celebration, a show of adulation and affection for the man who has been described as “the best thing that has happened to the Royal Opera in its lifetime.” Sir Antonio Pappano has served an exemplary 22 years as music director, conducting over 700 performances at Covent Garden , and guiding and mentoring some of today’s biggest names and rising stars, both. Surprisingly, there was no Wagner on the menu, and the only Mozart was the “Marriage of Figaro” with which the Maestro elected to open the evening’s performance.
Amongst a star studded cast, there w.