Classical Opera was founded in 1997 by conductor Ian Page to explore the works of Mozart and his contemporaries, and has emerged as one of the leading exponents in its field. Performing with its own acclaimed period-instrument orchestra, the company has attracted considerable critical and public recognition, not only for the high quality of its performances but also for its imaginative programming and its ability to discover and nurture outstanding young singers.   Classical Opera has performed regularly at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Sadler’s Wells, Wigmore Hall, the Barbican and Kings Place, and has mounted staged productions of many of Mozart’s operas, including Apollo et Hyacinthus, La finta semplice, Il re pastore, Zaide, Le nozze di Figaro and Così fan tutte. In 2009 it was invited to present The Royal Opera’s new production of Thomas Arne’s Artaxerxes, and it has also given the world première of the ‘original’ version of Mozart’s Mitridate, re di Ponto, the UK première of Gluck’s La clemenza di Tito, and concert performances of Mozart’s Ascanio in Alba and Lucio Silla, Handel’s Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, Arne’s Alfred and J C Bach’s Adriano in Siria.