Prior to the 1850s, there were two principal ways that opera was performed in Leeds.

(1) Theatre managers would assemble companies to perform seasons at their venues. This would see performers take on many roles a season, in spoken drama, comedy, pantomime, and opera. This is one of the reasons that English Ballad Opera thrived for so long - the music was manageable for performers who may not be able to cope with the more taxing Italian opera!

(2) Individual impresarios would assemble a company (predominantly of London-based singers) to tour select works to venues across the UK. One example of this is De Begnis' tours of the UK, which has previously been featured in the exhibition

Starting with the English Opera Company, constituted companies began to emerge, touring opera year round with dedicated companies of opera singers and producers.

They didn't necessarily, however, have their own instrumentalists. Even into the mid 20th century, many companies would rely on each theatre's own orchestra, with minimal rehearsal and not always the finest instrumentalists on offer to play the increasingly demanding operatic scores!