b'CULTUREdirector Antonio Pappano. Its no surprise that theatre tickets sold out in minutes, but one performance will be relayed live in cinemas. Were thrilled that Jonas Kaufmann chooses to perform on our stage, says Beard. And that we can give hundreds of thousands of people across the globe the opportunity to watch him live.Other initiatives include Create and Sing, a free-of-charge programme that offers free teacher training and resources for schools; Royal Opera House Bridge, which works with schools and arts organisations across Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire; and taking The Royal Ballet on tour to Doncaster, where it will work with every school in the area over the next three years. Im absolutely determined to do whatever we can to open up opportunities to explore theatre, says Beard.But investing in world-class talentand maintaining a Grade I-listed buildingcomes at a price. The Royal Opera House has to rely on a huge amount of private investment and philanthropy. Arts Council England funding accounts IM DE TERMINED TO D Ofor just 20 per cent of income, so half my time is spent making sure that weve got a strong network of relationships WHATE VER WE C AN TOto enable the Royal Opera House to ourish, says Beard. OPEN UP OPP ORTUNITIE SBut theres nothing I enjoy more than talking about what were up to with people who really care about it and who TO E XPLORE THE ATRE can make a difference. By supporting the Royal Opera House, they are helping to sustain one of the worlds great8 6artistic forces and making the lives of millions of people that bit richer. What could be more rewarding than that? Luke Hayes; James Bellorini; Sim Canetty-Clarke'