Royal Opera – Covent Garden looking into opening Manchester Branch

The Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House revealed in an interview that the organization was looking into opening a branch in Manchester, England. The northern industrial city better known for its football (aka soccer) team, Manchester United, than for classical music would be the first satellite location for the Royal Opera. Although the article mentions that multiple locations for arts organizations is not without precedence, notably the Tate Museum and the Royal Shakespeare Company, I do believe this is a new concept for a major opera company. In an age when companies are choosing to reach new audiences through new media, reaching new audiences through a new physical presence is at once old fashioned and yet also innovative and interesting. I think it's prudent that the Royal Opera is refusing to draw resources away from its established hub in London and rather looking for new funding sources. Although I am very interested how this plays out and how a multiple-location model would work for an opera company, I would hate to see this second location tarnish the quality and reputation of one of the finest opera companies in the world. 

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--Erika