Orchestra of the ROH/Pappano review – enjoying the chance to be seen and heard

Royal Opera House, London

With repertoire that played to his musicians’ strengths as colourists, accompanists and as a dance orchestra, Pappano showed the excellence of his ROH ensemble

Other major opera house orchestras have a life in the concert hall. So why not London too? After 13 years as Covent Garden’s music director, Antonio Pappano has decided to dip a toe in the water. “It’s been my dream to get my orchestra up here from down there,” he said in a short speech from the stage, pointing down to the pit before this inaugural annual venture.

Playing on the stage, the orchestra of the Royal Opera House looked a bit boxed in by the imported wooden backdrops and ceilings, installed to help push the sound outwards. It came over bright and well balanced in the rear stalls, but this opera house has acoustic Bermuda triangles, so it is hard to know if the sound worked as well higher up and further away.

Related: Pappano puts his Royal Opera House orchestra centre stage

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