Royal Opera to join forces with royal patronages for coronation concert

The BBC has today announced that the Royal Opera, Royal Ballet, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal College of Music and Royal College of Art will be joining forces next month for a performance for an audience of over 20,000 people as part of the upcoming televised Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on 7 May.

Four Royal College of Music students will perform as soloists: violinists Katherine Yoon and Betania Johnny, violist Declan Wicks and cellist Marion Portelance, who will play a cello once owned and played by The King. Members of the Royal Opera Chorus will sing an arrangement of a ‘classic song’ from Bernstein’s West Side Story, while principal dancers perform choreography created for the occasion.

The concert will be hosted by actor Hugh Bonneville, who said: ‘I’m delighted to be taking part in this unique event, celebrating the best of musical entertainment in honour of His Majesty’s coronation. In true British style, come rain or shine it will be a night to remember.’

The Royal patronages will for the first time come together in a performance combining music, dance, art and theatre around themes of love and togetherness. The Royal Shakespeare Company will perform excerpts from a Shakespeare play, featuring actors Ncuti Gatwa and Mei Mac while a visual backdrop projected on to Windsor Castle and the stage will showcase works by students from The Royal College of Art.