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.
London Festival Opera at La Fenice in Venice
Festivals, Opera, Opera GalaLa Fenice (The Phoenix) in Venice is one of the most renowned opera houses in the world and has a rich history marked by resilience, artistic innovation and architectural beauty. London Festival Opera has been honoured to perform at La Fenice as a guest company on two occasion including once as part of the Cavalchina Masked Ball during the Carnival Season.
Opened in 1792 where new works by composers such as Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi had premiers of their operas during the annual Carnival Celebrations. The theatre suffered a catastrophic fire in 1996 and was completely restored to the original beauty and opened in 2004.
Grand Hotel Eastbourne – Charity Opera Gala
Charity Events, Opera, Opera Magic, Special EventsSt Wilfrid’s Hospice is an independent charity that supports local communities facing life-changing and terminal illnesses for over 30 years. Her Majesty The Queen is the President of the charity. London Festival Opera presented their ‘Opera at the Movies’ programme in the handsome setting of the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne as a fundraising event. The Grand Hotel dominates the shoreline with its impressive 19th architecture and is like re-visiting a past era of elegant living. It is regarded as one of the finest of its kind, having welcomed many distinguished guests including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Arthur Conan Doyle and King Constantine of Greece.
Gala Dinner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea
Charity Events, Events, Opera, UncategorisedLondon Festival Opera presented an opera entertainment at The Royal Hospital Chelsea as the entertainment at the end of the Annual Gala Dinner as thanks for supporters. The event was hosted by the Governor, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE DL. For the final three pieces the opera soloists were joined by the Chelsea Pensioners Choir which included singing the choruses of ‘Modern Major Genera’ and ‘Nessun Dorma’.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded in 1682 by King Charles II as a retirement home for veteran soldiers and designed by Sir Christopher Wren inspired by the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris. The Hospital is the historic home of the Chelsea Pensioners – there are approximately 300 retired military personnel living in the complex, including 30 female residents. The choir added real vocal body to the ensemble and a stunning extra visual element in wearing their handsome scarlet uniforms. The choir was a pleasure to work with and soloists joined musical forces with them with pride!
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.