The Royal Opera House and the London Coliseum are taking part in an initiative to get London singing. Sing London, a 10-day event held from 29 June-8 July, is a pan-London festival which aims to unite the people of London, of all ages, in shared song. It comprises over 100 events which take place all over the capital, in cafes, museums, shops, libraries and even London buses.
For its part in the festival, the Royal Opera House is inviting anyone who likes to sing to Canada Square, Canary Warf on 3 July at 18:00 for a mass sing-along to the opera Tosca. The ROH is hoping that thousands – perhaps inspired by Paul Potts’s recent talent contest win – will turn up to participate in this potentially record-breaking rendition of Puccini’s opera. Following the 45-minute singing session, those gathered in the square can stay to see a live broadcast of that night’s performance of Tosca by the Royal Opera, beamed straight from Covent Garden as part of BP Summer Big Screens.
Budding singers can also get a private, one-to-one singing lesson courtesy of English National Opera during Sing London. On 30 June from 10:00-13:00, every nook and cranny of the London Coliseum, from the bar to the cloakroom, will be given over to private tuition. Members of ENO’s chorus will conduct the 20-minute sessions, which cover technique, posture and breath control, and participants will practise to the music from Kismet, which runs at the London Coliseum from 25 June-14 July.
“This open day is for people who sing in the bath. We hope it will be a little taster that might inspire [people] to take their singing further or spark an interest in opera and musical theatre,” said Catherine Sutton, Head of ENO Baylis, ENO’s learning and participation department, which is organising the one-to-one event.
Anyone can apply for a one-to-one session. To do so, fill in the online application form at www.eno.org/onetoone before Monday 25 June.
Musical theatre fans can visit the memorabilia shop Dress Circle on 7 July for a sing-song to some favourite show tunes, while other events forming part of Sing London include Motown singing at The City Inn, Gareth Malone from BBC2’s The Choir leading a sing-along at The Museum of London, and Fame Academy’s David and Carrie Grant taking the vocally challenged through their paces at the Science Museum.
For more information about all the events during Sing London, visit www.singlondon.org
CB