Leaves are falling, rain is constantly drizzling, everything has become grey, reasons enough to indulge in your annual depression and refuse to leave the comfort of your home. Londonrevue has put together a short list of musical highlights in historical venues in London that may just cure those autumn blues and entice you to set a foot outside!
- The Royal Albert Hall opened in 1871 is one of London 's most prestigious historic buildings and tourist attractions. It has hosted more than 150 000 performances including the celebrated BBC proms since 1941.
On October 18th, the Albert Hall will be the scene of a Concert for Care in aid of CARE International. The evening of film scores introduced by guest movie stars promises to be quite memorable and unique.
The Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2AP
Tel. 020 7838 3105
www.royalalberthall.com
- The Royal Opera House is another of the capital�s landmarks. The current building is the third building on the site following disastrous fires in 1808 and 1857. The facade, foyer and auditorium date from 1858 but almost every
other element of the present complex dates from an extensive reconstruction in the 1990s.
This season Londonrevue recommends Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, a popular production by David McVicar, conducted by Dan Ettinger, from October 11th to November 6th, and Romeo and Juliette by Charles-Francois Gounod, a joint production of the Theatre du Capitole in Toulouse and the Opera Comique in Paris. Nicolas Joel 's production, shown from October 26th to November 11th, is conducted by Daniel Oren and the leading female role is sung by Nino Machaidze who was celebrated in the role at the Salzburger Festspiele. Finally, Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck, conducted by Rory Macdonald from December 23rd 2010 to January 7th 2011, is programmed just in time for Christmas.
The Royal Opera House
Bow Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 9DD
Tel. 020 7304 4000
www.roh.org.uk
The Roundhouse has developed from modest beginnings as a steam engine repair shed in Victorian London to a legendary contemporary venue for a variety of cultural events. On October 20th, it welcomes Annie Lennox and a string of female artists for a special concert Voice Storm in aid of the HIV charity Body and Soul in memory of the late Dame Anita Roddick, founder of Body Shop.
From October 28th to October 30th it plays host to the BBC Electric Proms, a huge live music festival featuring stars such as Elton John and Plan B among many others.
The Roundhouse
Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8EH
Tel. 0844 482 8008
www.roundhouse.org.uk
- The Troubadour was founded in the 50s and remains the only coffee house of its type in Earls Court with a downstairs venue for poetry and live music. Here, in the basement, the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon all performed in the 60s. There is a daily programme of live acts you can browse through on their website.
The Troubadour
263-265 Old Brompton Road
London SW5 9JA
Tel. 020 7370 1434
www.thetroubadour.co.uk
Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in Soho is one of the oldest Jazz Clubs in Europe and has since its opening in 1959 seen all the great names in Jazz up until today. There are great performances to be seen every night and you can pick and choose from their website.
Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club
47 Frith Street
Soho
London W1D 4HT
Tel. 020 7439 0747
www.ronniescotts.co.uk
Finally, on the note of London�s thriving jazz scene, Londonrevue draws your attention to the annual London Jazz Festival that will take place this year from November 12th to November 21st at a variety of venues. The festival not only attracts jazz musicians from England but also from abroad and is an excellent opportunity to listen to many of the international stars covering all the different aspects and streams of jazz today.
www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk.
