CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA!

The most spectacular of all the Historic Royal Places in Whitehall, The Banqueting House, the first building in England to be designed in a Palladian style by Inigo Jones, was finished in 1622 for James 1st. Intended for the splendour and exuberance of Court Masques, the Banqueting Hall also boasts a magnificent ceiling, painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1630.

Sue's Blog HRP - http://learningblog.hrp.org.uk/community-outreach/a-year-with-connaught-opera/

As the sun flooded the Banqueting Hall, Connaught Opera performed a fun and traditional Festive concert, graciously hosted by the Banqueting House. Also featured, were children from the Tri-Borough Music Hub who led the audience in Carols.

Two of the Great City Liveries, The Leathersellers' Company and the Haberdashers' company, supported the event. Markson Pianos once again provided a beautiful grand piano. Eddie Olaleye has captured some fun and imaginative photographs this year which we are pleased to show on our website.

Above: Glenn, Maria and Nick with the Hon Alderman Cllr. Mrs Anne Mallinson, City of Westminster; The Worshipful The Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Cllr. Christopher Buckmaster; The Worshipful The Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Cllr. Belinda Donovan. Other pictures; in performance in front of The Throne; and Father and Mother Christmas with some of the children.
Nikki Lindsey , Outreach and Community Involvement Manager, Historic Royal Palaces said "I reckon you have the 'happiness formula' which you clearly dispensed to all the audience yesterday".

 

THE ICONIC TOWER OF LONDON

Pictures by Eddie Olaleye

Above: Glenn, Maria and Nick with Sue Whittaker, Visitor Relations Manager, Hampton Court Palace, and a Yeoman Warder, pose before the Olympic Rings suspended on Tower Bridge.
Right: Glenn and Maria before the concerts.

The excitement grows for the London 2012 Games and Paralympic Games.

London's most infamous Landmark, The Tower of London, has played a pivotal role in key events leading up to the Games.

The Olympic Flame will be housed in The Tower, before making the journey along the river to the Opening Ceremony; The Olympic Medals were ceremonially handed over to the Constable of the Tower for safekeeping in the Jewel House; designer Stella McCartney launched her Adidas Olympic designs for Team GB, and Connaught Opera presented two Olympic-themed concerts in the Royal Armouries Banqueting Suite to 300 older people and their families, from the five Host Boroughs.

 

HAMPTON COURT PALACE

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee, Connaught Opera, in their 9th year at the Palace, performed three concerts for around 300 elders from Richmond and Kingston.

The Palace, once again, was the gracious host to groups from Amy Woodgate House; The Phoenix Club; Raleigh House;Whitton Network; MDN Association; Hampton Friends; Deer Park View Care Home; MILAAP; Homelink; Age Concern, Richmond; Moving On (Life after Stroke Club);Dalemead; Newent House; Hobkirk House; Kingston Pensioners Forum; FISH; Contact the Elderly, Twickenham; Abbeyfield House; EMAG (Ethnic Minorities Advocacy Group); Murray House; Tedlock Ladies Club;The White House; Bradbury Active Ageing;Galsworthy House ; Abbeyfield Kew, The Royal Star & Garter.


The Mayor's of Richmond and Kingston attended the concert - funded by RBKUT and the Civic Pride Fund. The Worshipful Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond, Cllr. Rita Palmer and consort Mr Adrian Palmer. The Worshipful Mayor of Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Cllr. Mary Heathcote OBE. are pictured with Glenn, Maria and Nick, with some of the audience before the concert in the Clore Centre at Hampton Court Palace.

 

KENSINGTON PALACE

Home of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, Kensington Palace once again hosted Connaught Opera for the launch of their concert series to celebrate Her Majesty's Coronation with 'A Fifties Fantasia - Showstoppers from the Coronation Decade' held in the Mrs Lyons' Room, Clore Learning Centre.

The Drapers' Company supported this concert. (The Drapers have also funded Connaught to perform 7 other concerts which include, The British Home and The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability).

Goodwill for over 65 invited guests was abundant. Ampersand, who are caterers to Historic Royal Palaces, tempted their palates with delicious treats. Many of the guests were from very deprived parts of the capital, and would not otherwise have access to these events.

The Deputy Mayor of RBKC, Cllr The Lady Victoria Borwick, who also holds the role of Statutory Deputy Mayor of London, kindly attended, with past Master Grocer, Mr Robert Ringrose, The Worshipful Company of Grocers, featured with Glenn, Maria and Nick after the concert.

 

KEW PALACE

A Royal 'favourite', Kew Palace is a gem, nestling in the heart of Kew Gardens. It was used by King George III and his family as a country retreat, and was the intimate setting chosen by Prince Charles to celebrate her Majesty the Queen's 80th birthday.

This November, the Manager of the Palace, Jonathan Scott, hosted a concert by Connaught Opera (funded by the Richmond Civic Pride Fund) to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The Worshipful Mayor of Richmond, Cllr Rita Palmer and her Consort, and the Leader of Richmond Council, Lord True, welcomed guests from the Borough, including elders from the South West London Stroke Club ("Moving On"), Dalemead Care Home, Abbeyfield, Kew, The Avenue Club, Kew, The Woodville Centre, Cecil Court, Barnes Green Centre and EMEEG (Minority Ethnic Elders Group).

Above: Outside Kew Palace, with Lord True, The Mayor and consort and Palace Manager, Jonathan Scott.

Above: In the King's Dining Room where the concert was held at Kew Palace.

 

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