London Festival Opera’s programme ‘Opera at the Movies’ is proving popular for theatre and festival appearance, as well as for charity and special events.
Many celebrated filmmakers feature opera in their movies knowing that this will add an extra dramatic and emotional dimension to key scenes. Opera brings a depth and richness to the cinematic experience like no other music.
Opera at the Movies is a programme of passion, drama and humour of celebrated opera pieces featured in films including Pretty Woman, Shawshank Redemption, Quantum of Solace, The Witches of Eastwick, Gallipoli, Mrs Doubtfire, Amadeus, Family Man, Quartet, Rocky Balboa, The Father, Moonstruck, Chariots of Fire, The Godfather, Titanic and more…
Sit back and listen to some of the greatest music ever written in the company of Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Offenbach and Gilbert & Sullivan. This is a live performance with spoken introductions and accompanied by superb orchestral backing tracks.
Opera at the Movies – a programme for theatres and events
Arts Festivals, Charity Events, Corporate Events, Festivals, Opera, Opera Gala, Public PerformancesLondon Festival Opera’s programme ‘Opera at the Movies’ is proving popular for theatre and festival appearance, as well as for charity and special events.
Many celebrated filmmakers feature opera in their movies knowing that this will add an extra dramatic and emotional dimension to key scenes. Opera brings a depth and richness to the cinematic experience like no other music.
Opera at the Movies is a programme of passion, drama and humour of celebrated opera pieces featured in films including Pretty Woman, Shawshank Redemption, Quantum of Solace, The Witches of Eastwick, Gallipoli, Mrs Doubtfire, Amadeus, Family Man, Quartet, Rocky Balboa, The Father, Moonstruck, Chariots of Fire, The Godfather, Titanic and more…
Sit back and listen to some of the greatest music ever written in the company of Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Offenbach and Gilbert & Sullivan. This is a live performance with spoken introductions and accompanied by superb orchestral backing tracks.
Castle Howard Opera Gala
Arts Festivals, Charity Events, Corporate Events, Public Performances, Special EventsCastle Howard has been the home to the Howard family for over 300 years and is a stunning house designed by Sir John Vanbrugh. Renowned for its dramatic Baroque architecture and world-class art collection. The house has been used as the location for many films, in particular for the iconic Granada Television series of ‘Brideshead Revisited’. Recently London Festival Opera presented a programme of arias and ensembles in the long gallery which houses many great master paintings and fine furniture. There are plans to return to Castle Howard for another performance in the Autumn 2026.
The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond appearance
Arts Festivals, Corporate Events, Events, Festivals, Opera GalaThe Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond Yorkshire is Britain’s oldest working theatre in its original form. It is both a thriving community playhouse and a living theatre museum. It was a great pleasure for London Festival Opera to present an Opera Soirée for a private performance recently. The singers wore Regency evening dress to create an added visual dynamic to a programme of Handel, Mozart, Bizet, Verdi and Gilbert & Sullivan.
A Night at the Opera in the magical setting of Bayham Abbey
Arts Festivals, Events, Festivals, Opera Gala, Public PerformancesLondon Festival Opera appeared for the first time in an al fresco performance at the ancient ruins at Bayham Abbey. The large audience picnicked in the grounds before the performance and sipped champagne as the singers sang celebrated arias and ensembles from the works of Handel, Mozart, Bizet, Verdi and Gilbert & Sullivan. The company will return to the Abbey in August 2026.
So it’s time to start looking at music for your Wedding!? The Ceremony.
Events, Opera GalaThe Wedding Ceremony
There is such a wide range of music to choose from and it can be dauting knowing where to start. Our advice, for experience, is to make a list of what music has a special meaning for you and do not be afraid to ‘think out of the box’. Depending on the location and style of wedding you are planning there may be various times of the day where you need different types of music. You may have a dinner the evening before you Wedding Day and on the day itself you may need music for the Ceremony and Wedding Breakfast or Dinner. You may then wish to dance the night away with a Disco at the end of the evening.
Opera can bring a multi-faceted entertainment that could be the perfect ingredient for the various stages of the celebrations. Also, opera transcends language and could be the perfect entertainment for multi national gatherings as well as brining a unique element of sophistication.
For many weddings London Festival Opera has supplied a soloist or group of singers to perform at a key moment of the Wedding Ceremony, perhaps during the signing of the register, where something extra special and emotional is required. Some Brides and Grooms choose something religious such as a version of ‘Ave Maria’ but others choose something secular like ‘Summertime’ or perhaps an operatic aria by Mozart or Puccini, or an operatic version of a Pop Song.
Please do call London Festival Opera to discuss arranging an extra-special element of live music at your Wedding Ceremony.
Call us now to discuss on 07802 183847 or send an email to philip@londonfestivalopera.co.uk
Opera at HMP Brixton…
EventsIn November the company presented a programme of popular opera at HMP Brixton, the first time in the history of the prison that opera had been heard within the walls. In two sittings, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, over 200 inmates and staff listened to celebrated arias and ensembles from the operas of Mozart, Bizet, Verdi, Puccini and Gilbert and Sullivan in a programme inspired by opera featured in classic films. It was a powerful experience. The majority had not heard live opera before and many were amazed at the sheer volume of the singers enhanced by the excellent acoustics of the 19th century chapel.
Opera raises charity funds!
Charity Events, EventsAn Opera Evening is an excellent way to raise funds for a charity, and London Festival Opera has a wealth of experience in creating programmes of opera, operetta and musicals to link perfectly with a dinner or reception. The company has been the vehicle to help charities raise many hundreds of thousands of pounds. These images are from a sell out dinner in a magnificent church raising funds for a hospice. The performance was accompanied by orchestral backing tracks.
Goldsmiths’ Hall Opera Gala
Events, Opera, Opera Gala, Special EventsIt was a great pleasure, as always, to return to the magnificent and historic Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London for an ‘in-house’ opera gala for the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ and their guests. The evening began with a surprise burst of opera in the Drawing Room during the drinks reception, and then continued with the main performance during the courses of dinner in The Hall. The performers wore Victoria evening gowns for an added visual impact. The Goldsmiths’ Hall has one of the finest grand pianos in London: our pianist, Jenny, loves it so much she declared she would be prepared to lodge underneath it permanently!
The Goldsmiths’ Company has been located on the site since 1339.The present Hall, by Philip Hardwick, was built in the 1830’s and remains much as he designed it. The Hall and other state rooms have been used for a host of films including most recently for Buckingham Palace in ‘The Crown’.
Wedding Opera in Gstaad!
Events, Opera, Opera Gala, Private Events, Singing Waiters, Special EventsMagical opera in an enchanting setting!
London Festival Opera has a wealth of experience in creating the perfect selection of opera for a weddings. We recently returned from a very special wedding in Switzerland at the Gstaad Palace Hotel (pictured) one of the most enchanting settings in the world! Gstaad has long been a destination for high society and the international jet set is part of the municipality of Saanen and is known as a major ski resort.
We worked closely with the Bride and Groom and looked at the wide range of repertoire available. One Bride for a wedding in London wanted something very different and made her entry into the ceremony accompanied by the rock classic ‘Highway to Hell’ with a superb electric guitarist! After other arias (including from ‘La Traviata’ and ‘The Barber of Seville’) the grand final piece was an operatic version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with singers and guitarist.
In Gstaad, after the surprise waiter start, the cutting of the cake was accompanied by a rousing opera version of ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’!! There is so much repertoire to choose from and live music never fails to add something extra-special and really memorable to the day…
Travelling to far off places…
Corporate Events, Opera, Special EventsOne of the exciting part of performing opera is the opportunity to travel. Performances overseas have taken us across Europe and as far afield as Hong Kong, Mumbai, as well as Canada and Barbados. We travel extensively in Europe often presenting a ‘surprise opera’ entertainment where waiters or fellow party guests burst into song to the amazement of the real guests. We are currently planning to return to Italy working with the client to create the perfect programme for the celebratory dinner – including special requests. On this occasion that includes the Drinking Song from Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’ and ending the evening with an operatic version of a pop song (the final decision will be between ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’!)