Opera has its premiere in the bar after power failure

A Covent Garden opera had its premiere in the bar after a power failure hit the Royal Opera House.

George Benjamin's first opera, Into The Little Hill - a version of The Pied Piper - had started in the opera house's Linbury theatre when the lights went off.

The audience were asked to go to the bar while the problem was fixed but by 10.15pm Benjamin said he would hold the premiere of the 40-minute opera there and then.

The cast of two and the London Sinfonietta performed with the soprano, Claire Booth, sitting on the bar and an audience including Michael Portillo and Dame Liz Forgan, chairman of the Arts Council, standing or sitting on the floor.

Despite the hitch, there were positive reviews. Andrew Clements of The Guardian said: "Those who had stayed the course were transfixed."