‘We can’t just be in our ivory tower’: the Italian conductor aiming to open up the Royal Opera House to everyone

Speranza Scappucci hopes to demystify the art form for the English public when she becomes principal guest conductor

In her native Italy, conductor Speranza Scappucci stars in a national television show in which she sits at the piano explaining symphonies and operas to viewers, before performing them with an orchestra, to help bring classical works to new audiences.

And soon she hopes to help demystify opera for British audiences. On Sunday the Royal Opera House announced her appointment as its first principal guest conductor in more than a quarter of a century.