Setting the scene

Antonio Pappano, music director, and Robert Carsen, opera director, take you through the main characters, storylines and music of seven great operas. Discover more about the composers and the social climate in which they created these musical works of art, while listening to key moments played on the piano.

Setting the Scene: L'incoronazione di Poppea

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Setting the Scene: Rinaldo

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Setting the Scene: Le Nozze di Figaro

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Setting the Scene: Nabucco

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Setting the Scene: Tannhauser

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Setting the Scene: Salome

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Setting the Scene: Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District

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Explore opera in more depth, watch recordings of live performances and find out about the composers in the Royal Opera House's online resource Discover Opera.