In the late 19th century, opera was mainly confined to short seasons at a major London theatre, usually Her Majesty's or the Royal Opera House.
Opera continued to be a fashionable entertainment and watching the audience was as important as watching the stage! When electric lighting was installed
and the auditorium lights were lowered during the performance, opera audiences complained that they could not be seen.
Until the mid-20th century, the Royal Opera House was only used for opera for part of the year and the rest of the time presented plays, pantomimes,
revues, and even ice shows. During World War 2 it was a dance hall. English singers of talent, like Eva Turner, did sing
in London, but spent most of their careers abroad. The turn of the century saw a revival of interest (mostly by small, specialist societies) in 17th
and 18th century opera some of which had not been performed for over two hundred years.
Outside London there were occasional performances by a touring opera, such as the Moody-Manners Company or the Carl Rosa Opera. In the early 20th century
Sir Thomas Beecham established the British National Opera Company but even his father's money (derived from the famous pharmaceutical empire)
could not keep it afloat indefinitely.
Sadler’s Wells Opera
