VIDEO: Antonio Pappano Talks Playing Simon Boccanegra at Birmingham Symphony Hall

As with fully staged performances at Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano will conduct a cast including Thomas Hampson, Hibla Gerzmava, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Russell Thomas and Dimitri Platanias. Read what audiences thought of the opening night performance in London.

'I've already had the experience of performing this opera in concert having brought it to the Proms,' Antonio says, 'It works beautifully because each character is focused and the music speaks so clearly. You don't need all the trappings of the stage.'

'We receive money from the Arts Council and its important that we go to other locations in Great Britain'.