A behind-the-scenes tour of the magnificent Royal Opera House in London, thirty minutes before curtain up, led by Figaro the cat. It's opening night of The Nutcracker, and the performers at the Royal Opera House in London are busy getting ready to step out onto the stage. Meanwhile, Figaro - the opera house's resident cat - is poised to take readers on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet the many people working to make tonight's performance a resounding success. This backstage tour of the Royal Opera House takes readers from department to department to discover what's involved in putting on a performance such as The Nutcracker. Featuring examples from key works of opera and ballet, highlights of the tour include trying on the Mad Hatter's wig from Alice in Wonderland; practising for a fighting scene from Romeo and Juliet; putting the finishing touches on the Sugar Plum Fairy's tutu; learning to 'play dead'; and creating explosions on stage. Including an introduction to a classical orchestra, key ballet terms and basic stage directions, the book encourages readers to explore the many ways they can get involved.

"Captures the resilience of the company." – The i newspaper In March 2020, Liam Scarlett's production of Swan Lake opened at the Royal Opera House, beginning its anticipated 3-month run. That same month, the UK government ordered theatres and arts centres across the country to close immediately as the COVID-19 pandemic starting its fast and destructive spread around the world. At the Royal Opera House, The Royal Ballet Company were furloughed and training programmes quickly set up virtually. Audiences who previously crowded into the venue were confined to their homes, with many switching their engagement to streamed digital performances live from the venue. This changed the audience experience significantly - not only because of the nature of the performance dramatically, but because it brought in new international audiences almost overnight. This book of photographs captures a period unlike any other, a journey that starts with the Company in "normal" times and develops into plans being made for a gradual in-person return to the Royal Opera House under strict COVID safety measures, such as mask-wearing, extensive COVID testing and artists working in "bubbles". Through a selection of striking photographs, the book showcases the remarkable resilience of The Royal Ballet throughout this year, a resilience that's shared by so many arts organisations affected equally dramatically by the pandemic. This Season in Pictures volume contains photographs of classic Royal Ballet productions, including Swan Lake, Coppélia and The Nutcracker, dancers engaged in community projects, socially distanced performances on The Royal Ballet stage, performances with totally empty auditoria and dancers in rehearsal wearing face masks.

Tamara Rojo, Carlos Acosta and Marianela Nunez are the lead dancers in the Royal Ballet's production of Marius Pepita's ballet, recorded live at London's Royal Opera House in January 2009.

Stage director Stephen Langridge brings Harrison Birtwhistle's Greek myth-based opera to Covent Garden's Royal Opera House. Recorded live in spring 2008, the production stars John Tomlinson in the title role. Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the Royal Opera Chorus.

Placido Domingo is joined by Mariana Polavskaya, Joseph Calleja, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Jonathan Summers and Lukas Jakobski for this Royal Opera House production of Verdi's opera. Antonio Pappano conducts the Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus; Elijah Moskinsky directs.

Mark-Anthony Turnage's operatic take on the lurid life of former Playboy model and octogenarian billionaire's wife, Anna Nicole Smith. Eva-Maria Westbroeck takes the lead role in this production filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in February 2011, with Antonio Pappano conducting.

Antonio Papano conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House in this production of Verdi's opera, originally broadcast live from Covent Garden to cinemas around the globe in June, 2011. Phyllida Lloyd's production stars Simon Keenlyside and Liudmyla Monastryrska as the Scottish lord and his treacherous wife, with American basso cantante Raymond Aceto as the murdered Banquo.

The Royal Ballet's Miyako Yoshida, Stephen McRae, and Gary Avis take the lead roles in this production of Tchaikovsky's classic work recorded in December 2009. Koen Kessels conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

Edward Watson takes the lead role in Kenneth MacMillan's production of Mayerling, filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 2009. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is conducted by Barry Wordsworth.

Marianela Nunez and Thiago Soares head the cast in this acclaimed production for the Royal Ballet from March 2009. Russian conductor Valeriy Ovsyanikov leads the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, while Anthony Dowell directs.

Live performance of Englebert Humperdinck's fairytale opera 'Hansel and Gretel', recorded at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2008. Colin Davis conducts this performance with an acclaimed cast that includes Thomas Allen, Angelika Kirchschlager and Diana Damrau.

Francesca Zambello's vibrant production of Bizet's opera recorded live at London's Royal Opera House in June 2011. Christine Rice leads an all-star cast including Bryan Hymel, Dawid Kimberg, Maija Kovalevska and Nicolas Courjal, with conductor Constantinos Carydis making his Covent Garden debut.