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Picture gallery: Opera's glittering night
After a three-year refurbishment, guests at the black-tie event enjoyed a special performance by the Royal Ballet and music from Placido Domingo to mark the occasion.
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Work on the opera house in central London cost �214m, and though the venue's historic auditorium remains, backstage and other areas have been extensively rebuilt.
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The Queen dazzled in a cream and gold outfit, which Buckingham Palace said may have been inspired by the lavish surroundings.
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Tony and Cherie Blair met workers involved in the refurbishment before settling into their seats for the evening.
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Bosses hope the reopening will signal a new lease of life for the opera house after years of controversy and accusations of snobbery, elitism and mismanagement.
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Former prime minister Lady Thatcher and husband Denis were among the VIP guests.
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The Queen was full of smiles as she met Placido Domingo after the performance.
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Principal ballerina Darcey Bussell also benefited from the Queen's obvious delight in the evening's celebrations.
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Now the government wants to see the venue become a "people's opera house" with cheaper tickets and free concerts.
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 | 01 Dec 99 | Entertainment |
| Royal rebirth for Opera House |
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