Mr Tchaikowsky, an acclaimed composer and concert pianist, died of cancer in 1982 aged 46 and donated his body for medical science.

BBC: Bequeathed skull stars in Hamlet

Instead, Rylance used a cast of Mr Tchaikowsky's skull, and the real thing was returned to the props department, where it resided in a tissue-lined box for almost 20 years.

BBC: Bequeathed skull stars in Hamlet

Mr Pountney, who joined WNO in 2011, has worked on operas by Polish artists including Karol Szymanowski's King Roger, Mieczyslaw Weinberg's The Passenger and the forthcoming premiere of Andre Tchaikowsky's The Merchant of Venice.

BBC: Welsh National Opera boss awarded for promoting Poland