Pappano becomes Royal Opera’s first conductor laureate

ANTONIO PAPPANO has been appointed the first conductor laureate of The Royal Opera, effective immediately. 

Following a 22-year stint as the Covent Garden company’s longest-serving music director, Pappano stepped down from the post at the end of the 2023/24 season, and will be succeeded by music director designate  JAKUB HRŮŠA, who takes up his tenure in September. 

In his new guise, Pappano will conduct regularly in future seasons. 

‘It is a huge honour to receive this title, and I am delighted to continue to have a relationship with this house, which is very dear to me,” said Pappano.

“Opera is an extraordinary art form, full of drama, emotion and relevance and I look forward to returning to work on incredible productions alongside colleagues who are also friends.”

OLIVER MEARS, director of opera at The Royal Opera, said, “For more than two decades, Tony has done more to define Covent Garden’s identity than anyone else.

“His boundless love for opera is matched only by his tireless determination to apply the utmost rigour and energy to every aspect of making it: conducting, getting the best out of singers, mining the text, communicating the art form’s wider purpose, and creating an atmosphere of togetherness and approachability. 

“In his time here, he fostered not only exemplary standards, but a feeling of unsnobbish company which is central to the success of any collective artistic endeavour. It is wonderful that we are able to recognise Tony’s achievements with this title.”

ALEX BEARD, CEO of the Royal Ballet and Opera, added: “Tony’s artistry enriches us all. This is an honour befitting a person whose contribution to music here at Covent Garden, and around the world, is nothing short of extraordinary.’