Royal Opera Music Staff (Opera)


£40.63 per hour including rolled up holiday pay

Minimum call time of 2 hours

Offers of work are on a casual basis only


The Royal Opera, under the musical direction of Antonio Pappano and Director of Opera Oliver Mears, is one of the world`s leading opera companies. Based in the iconic Covent Garden theatre, it is renowned both for its outstanding performances of traditional opera and for commissioning new works by today`s leading opera composers, from Judith Weir and Mark-Anthony Turnage to George Benjamin and Kaija Saariaho.


We are currently recruiting exceptional music staff to join our freelance pool, to coach ROH Principals and Guest Principals to work with the Royal Opera to the highest artistic standards.


The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate these qualities:

  • Comprehensive knowledge of the opera repertoire
  • Significant experience as a repetiteur for a major opera company (please outline)
  • A high-profile coach/assistant conductor and equivalent experience as a recitalist with singers of an international standard
  • A detailed knowledge of the working processes of an opera company, with experience of scheduling
  • A team player, with a natural rapport with singers, conductors and directors, who gets involved in the creative process and takes an interest across all productions
  • Fluency in German, French and Italian


All information on our Freelance Music Staff, the audition process and how to apply is detailed in the applicant pack which is available below. First and second round auditions will be held in person consecutively on 7th and 8th June 2022.


The first round audition on 7th June 2022 will require applicants to:

  • Play and sing in German an excerpt of Die Walkre Act 1 - beginning 2 bars before Fig 51 - Sehr Lebhaft before "O fnd Ich ihn heut"
  • Play and sing in Italian an excerpt of Le Nozze di Figaro Act 2 Finale, beginning at Bar 328 (Signori di fuori)
  • Play and sing a prepared extract of your own choice - maximum 3 and a half minutes
  • Read at sight 2 short sections of spoken text in German and French
  • Prepared sight reading. Candidates will be given a complex piece of sight reading 10 minutes before the audition begins and will then be asked to play it in the audition.
  • Sight reading of standard operatic repertoire, without preparation time.


Successful candidates will then be invited to a second round on 8th June 2022.


The Royal Opera House is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment in which everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from those who are currently under represented in our workforce; in particular, those who are ethnically diverse and/or disabled. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential minimum criteria for our vacancies.


To apply, please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on `Apply Now`.

For queries please contact the HR Department at hr.recruitment@roh.org.uk You can also contact us if you have any access needs for making an application.


Closing date for applications: 8am Tuesday 24th May 2022


Applicants must have work authorisation for the UK.




Sorry, this vacancy is closed.