The Royal Opera House: Welcome to the new people's palace | Observer Profile

Ten years ago, London's home of the high arts was broken and almost bankrupt. Now, with high-risk shows and queues round the block, it's all swagger"A manager of a London opera house is a man who carries about a barrel of gunpowder and cannot put it down because he is pursued with flaming torches. The poor devil runs as fast as his legs will carry him and would trample on the bodies of his father, wife or children if they got in his way." Hector Berlioz, 1851The smooth, smartly suited Tony Hal...

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