A programme in two parts on the past, present and future of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

"We possess possibly the best opera and ballet companies in the world, but a wind of change may be blowing through our most important national cultural institution." Sir David Webster, General Administrator since 1945, and Sir Frederick Ashton, Director of the Royal Ballet since 1964, have both retired while Georg Solti, Musical Director since 1961, will be leaving next year to be succeeded by Colin Davis.

This evening the first part of this special documentary film traces the tempestuous history of the Royal Opera House from the time the first building opened its doors in 1732 up to the present day, 26 years after Sir David Webster's appointment.

Among the many artists and staff associated with the Royal Opera House who will be seen in tonight's programme are: Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Thomas Beecham,
Maria Callas, Edward Downes, Dame Margot Fonteyn, David Franklin, Carlo Maria Giulini, Tito Gobbi, Rudolf Nureyev, Georg Solti, Michael Somes, Dame Ninette de Valois as well as Sir David Webster himself
(Part 2: Omnibus next Sunday)