At the end of January we have another Feast of Performances, staying four nights in London, and including Beethoven 1st Piano Concerto and Shostakovich 10th Symphony with Vasily Petrenko, Benjamin Grosvenor and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Richard Jones' highly praised production of Boris Godunov with Bryn Terfel at the Royal Opera House, A Midsummer Night's Dream at the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Noel Coward's Fallen Angels at the Menier Chocolate Factory plus two piano recitals at Wigmore Hall to wrap up the package.
We stay 4 nights at the well reviewed and purpose built Premier Inn Southwark/Tate Modern which opened in late 2020 and has a great location just off Southwark St and less than 10 minutes walk to the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and the Menier Chocolate Factory and closer still to the Tate Modern and Millenium Bridge. Full breakfast buffet included each morning and all rooms have private bathroom with bath/shower & wc. We have a small number of accessible rooms with walk-in shower. Please note this on the Booking Form if required.
Here’s the schedule:
Saturday 31st January
Executive coach to London – pick up at usual northwest pick-up points plus Birmigham International Station.
Pre-performance meal at the Globe Theatre with wine.
By the glow of candlelight, in the depths of winter, discover the magic of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed for the first time in the wonderful recreation of a 17th century Jacobean theatre at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
If that's not your thing, we also have a small number of tickets for Allan Clayton accompanied by Paul Lewis performing Schubert's Winterreise D911 at Wigmore Hall. Please indicate your choice on the Booking Form.
Sunday 1st February
This morning we head south to the renowned Dulwich Picture Gallery to see the 5* Guardian reviewed Anna Ancher: Painting Light
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/nov/04/anna-ancher-painting-light-review-dulwich-picture-gallery
We return to the southbank with time for a lunchtime snack (payable locally) before we take our seats in another unique setting at The Menier Chocolate Factory, the 100th anniversary production of Noël Coward’s outrageous comedy Fallen Angels.
The renowned opera and musical theatre director Christopher Luscombe directs an excellent cast including Janie Dee (Julia Sterroll), Alexandra Gilbreath (Jane Banbury), Christopher Hollis (Bill Banbury), Richard Teverson (Fred Sterroll), Sarah Twomey (Saunders), and Graham Vick (Maurice Duclos).
This evening we will have a relaxed dinner with wines at one of London's top riverside restaurants.
Monday 2nd February
This morning is free until we transfer to Wigmore Hall for the 1pm performance:
Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin – plays Bach, Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev.
Transfer back to the hotel or free time in London until we meet for pre-performance meal this evening.
Two performances to choose from tonight (transfers included for both)
At the Royal Opera House - Richard Jones' production of Boris Godunov with Bryn Terfel heading the cast. The performance is 2hrs 15 minutes without intereval.
Amphitheatre seats (Row M) included and upgrades to front Amphitheatre or stalls from £30 to £200 (see Booking Form for prices and seat locations)
or
at Wigmore Hall – The Amelia Freedman Memorial Concert – celebrating the life of the founder of the Nash Ensemble and Bath Mozart & Bach Fests.
Nash Ensemble, Claire Booth (soprano), Martyn Brabbins, conductor
works by Ravel, Mendelssohn, Mahler Symphony No. 4 (arranged for Nash by Iain Farrington) & Helen Grime. Stalls or front row balcony included.
Tuesday 3rd February
This morning is free until we transfer to Wigmore Hall for the 1pm performance.
Our final visit to Wigmore Hall when pianist Ameri Harewood (Grand Prize winner of the Young Classical Artist Trust (UK) and Concert Artists Guild (US) International Auditions 2024) – plays Bach, Ades, Rachmaninov, Uzoigwe, Granados, Walker,
Transfer back to the hotel or free time in London until we meet for pre-performance meal before our final concert of the tour:
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Vasily Petrenko are joined by pianist Benjamin Grosvenor and Baritone Yuriy Yurchuk for a programme including Ustvolskaya The Dream of Stepan Razin
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1
Shostakovich Symphony No.10
Wednesday 4th February
We leave London mid morning and return to the midlands and northwest.
Full payment plus any ticket upgrades payable at the time of booking.
