The internationally renowned Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden is launching a special exhibition to celebrate the Royal Opera's 60th anniversary at the venue.

Among the many production photographs on display in the Amphitheatre Gallery include this shot of Dame Eva Turner (foreground) in her farewell performance as Turandot in 1947.

The exhibition also includes this photograph of the German bass-baritone Hans Hotter (right) making his Covent Garden debut as Wotan in Wagner's Die Walkure in 1948.

One of the notable successes of the Royal Opera's first decade was its production of Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd, first performed on the Covent Garden stage in 1951.

Maria Callas' performances at Covent Garden are now the stuff of legend. This picture shows her with Mirto Picchi (right) in a 1952 production of Bellini's Norma.

Among the more tangible exhibits on display include the sumptuous costume designed by Cecil Beaton for soprano Amy Shuard for a 1963 production of Puccini's Turandot.

The celebrated British talents featured include Dame Gwyneth Jones (left), who achieved overnight fame when she appeared in this 1964 production of Verdi's Il Trovatore.

Norman Bailey's dramatic make-up befits the role of The Wanderer in this photograph from the Royal Opera's 1980/81 revival of Siegfried, the third part of Wagner's epic Ring cycle.

No celebration of the Royal Opera House would be complete without Luciano Pavarotti (right), seen here with Montserrat Caballe in the 1980/81 revival of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.

More contemporary productions featured include the 2004 premiere of Thomas Ad�s' The Tempest. The exhibition runs at the Royal Opera House from 22 January to 22 July.