About this Event
Join us for another of our unique events - a gala concert of music and arias about romantic love combined with servings of some of our high quality Italian wines! Featuring arias from best loved operas and wonderful classical songs by Italian composers.
CREDIT: Design of Banner Picture based on Graphic design by Marina Mattos.
Previous performances by artistes who were in "Spring & Romance 2023" and who have also performed at various of our past concerts. Video link (NB Not all singers shown will be in the 2026 presentation)
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UPDATE
THURS 12 FEB 2026 Launch of tickets sales! We offer 3 ticket types (frozen at 2025 prices!):
STANDARD £24.50* - includes welcome glass of bubbly, seating from Row 4 and above, a glass of quality Italian wine or soft drink plus snack during the Intermission, and programme booklet
PREMIUM £32.50* - offer as Standard ticket, except, seating from Rows 2 to 3 (closer to performance area); Premium Welcome bubbly and Italian wines served during the Intermission
SUPER PREMIUM £39.50* - offer as Premium ticket, except, seating in FRONT (first) ROW (closest to performance area)
*Plus Eventbrite fee
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The Italian wines to be served at the concert for different ticket types will be revealed via an update here, nearer the time.
In our very impressive line-up*, we are delighted to present American soprano Andrea Rodriguez-Gomez, who posseses a sweet voice and excellent skill and British bass-baritone Harrison Gration. Both have been extremely well-received by our audience at previous singing engagements! ) Joining them will be English lyric tenor Jack Roberts, who returns to sing with us following completion of his Opera Course at the prestigious Dutch National Opera, and Lithuanian soprano Valerija Iljin, an alumna of both Trinity Laban & The Royal Academy of Music, who performs internationally. We are also delighted to introduce an emerging talent, British spinto tenor Tom Lidgley, who recently gained his Masters degree from the Royal Academy of Music.
The singers will draw you into a magical operatic world of passionate emotional highs with their glorious voices and superb technique - accompanied on the YAMAHA Grand piano (and/or the Yamaha Clavinola) by the very best collaborative pianist we know, Caroline Jaya-Ratnam!
See the Artistes' Bios below.
Songs to be featured in the concert - to be determined:
(*NB. We are recruiting additional artistes. The exact line-up of singers, pianists and the music programme on the evening are subject to confirmation. Please check Updates Section nearer the time)
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Spring & Romance 2026 - EVENT TIMETABLE (Approx. timetable)
17:20 Doors open for Welcome glass of sparkling wine (or soft drink)
18:30 Introduction
18:40 Concert Begins (approx. time) - first half of operatic arias
19:20 Intermission for refreshments, including glass of quality Italian wine (or fruit juice)
19:45 Second half of concert of operatic arias
20:30 (approx. time) End of concert
20:45 Close
From 20:30 - Optional Dinner [Details later]
NB Times are approximate, and we aim to finish by 20:30
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Our ITALIAN Wines at the concert :
The wine-list for "Spring and Romance 2026" - to be updated: (the list of wines shown below are examples from our 2023 presentation, to give an idea of what to expect)
WELCOME
- Maggi Francesco "Vigna Pradere" Pinot Nero Frizzante DOC 12% White OR
- Quattre Erre Villa Erica Prosecco Treviso DOC EXD
INTERMISSION
Standard Ticket
- Scolari Bianco della Casa 12.5% White, Lombardy Soft and mellow, light to medium bodied wine. Some ripe stonefruit, melon, pear and citrus notes, with a hint of bitterness.
- Scolari Rosso della Casa 12.5% Red, Lombardy Very soft, light bodied, with soft tannins. Ripe red berries (mainly raspberries), a bit of dried fruit and a hint of caramel.
Premium / Super-Premium
- Cantina Baldassarri 'Grande Alone' Vino Bianco 2017 IGT 13.5% White, Umbria Blend of Chardonnay & Grechetto grapes, aged in oak for 6 mths. Notes of apple, caramel, stone & tropical fruits & citrus.
- Orlandini Tenuta Il Santo 'Argena' Sangiovese Super Tuscan 2005 IGT 13.5% Red, Tuscany Elegant oak-aged red wine. Soft, mellow, with vibrant red cherry, berry, herbs, tobacco & dried fruits notes.
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Artistes' Biographies
, tenor, graduated in classical voice (1st Class Honours) from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2018. He is the winner of the Joyce Budd Second Prize of the 2015 Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary For Young Singers to whom he is very thankful for generously supporting him through his undergraduate studies. Jack has performed many opera roles including Lensky (Eugine Onegin) and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) for Opera Loki, Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) for Barefoot Opera, and Basilio/Curzio (Le Nozze di Figaro). He has also sung in the ensemble for The Royal Opera, Grange Park Opera, Longborough Festival Opera and in the UK premiere of Jonathan Dove's Monster in the Maze conducted by Sir Simon Rattle (LSO), and the role of Lensky in Opera Holland Park's production of Tchaikovsky's Eugine Onegin as part of The Young Artists Cast (2023). Jack recently graduated from the Opera Course at The Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam.
Andrea Rodriguez-Gomez is a mezzo-soprano studying with a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music under Nuccia Focile. During and preceding her time at the Academy, Andrea has performed a wide variety of repertoire consisting of opera, art song and oratorio. At eighteen years old, she had the privilege of making her debut at Carnegie Hall. This upcoming summer, Andrea will be performing as a soloist in Muzika! The Grand Strand Music Festival under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter. (As a "high mezzo", Andrea is able to sing some arias from the soprano repertoire!)
Valerija Iljin is a Lithuanian spinto soprano who recently graduated with a Master of Arts with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music. Valerija holds a Bmus degree from Trinity Laban and a BA theatre degree from VIKO and LCM. Valerija is a member of Dolora Zajick’s Institute for Young Dramatic Voices and American Wagner Project, performed in Leeds Lieder festival as an emerging artist. In 2023, she made her Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall debut. Valerija was a semi-finalist of the Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2023 and a runner-up of the Clara Schumann lieder competition. Recent opera and theatre credits include Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte (VOF), Larina in Onegin (HGO), Chrysothemis in Elektra (DVPB), Elsa in Lohengrin (RAM), Norma in Norma (RAM). Upcoming roles include Violetta (La Traviata) and Eva (Die Meistersinger).
Harrison Gration is a British Bass-Baritone studying with Alex Ashworth and Raymond Connell at the Royal Academy of Music. He has been praised in performances for his “Booming Basso” (Sussex Arts and Culture), “stunning vocal talents” (onmagazine), and “the power of his voice” (Reviewshub). His operatic roles have included, Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi, Puccini) with Opera Lucca celebrating the Puccini centenary in his home town, Mephistopheles (Faust, Gounod) with New Sussex Opera, Fasolt (Das Rheingold) with the Tundi Wagner in Vermont Festival, Colline (La Boheme, Puccini), Masetto (Don Giovanni) with Hurn Court Opera (and many more). A particular highlight of Harrison’s career so far is a recent series of concerts performing operatic excerpts alongside bass, Sir John Tomlinson, this concert included and excerpt of Rigoletto oposite Sir John’s Sparafucile. Harrison also works as an arranger of vocal and Orchestral music, recently his arrangements have been featured in concerts in the York Minster, The Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music.
Tom Lidgley is a young British tenor who has recently graduated from his Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music, studying under Adrian Thompson and Janet Haney. Tom also studied with Adrian at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Tom’s operatic experience includes singing Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème (Aquarian Opera Company), Alfred in Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus, Mayor Upfold in Britten’s Albert Herring (GSMD), Chorus & Cover Shallow in Vaughan Williams’ Sir John in Love (BYO), Alfredo in Act 1 of Verdi’s La Traviata (in concert with Aylesbury Opera Company) and various opera scenes and productions at both the Academy and Guildhall. Tom is a former member of the Garsington Youth Opera Company, singing in three operas with them, including the premiere of Roxanna Panufnik’s Silver Birch. Tom has also performed as the Tenor soloist in both Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Handel’s Messiah.
Following her Masters degree in Music (Cambridge University), accomplished concert pianist, accompanist, violinist and singer Caroline Jaya-Ratnam was appointed Junior Fellow at the Royal College of Music. She has appeared on TV accompanying world renowned opera singers including tenor, Rolando Villazon, baritone Bryn Terfel and soprano Danielle de Niese. She has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in numerous Proms as part of the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
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- Special 'Spring & Romance' Indian Dinner (Set Menu) Option
Extra special offer for concert-goers - a 3 course sumptious Indian dinner for ONLY £30 per head (to include service charge) NB This is an optional extra and is not included in any of the ticket prices. (Payment for dinner to be arranged with GS Wines following ticket booking)
Starters (served on sizzling Grill hot plate!)
- Chilli Mango Chicken Tikka
- Mutton Chops
- Paneer Tikka
- Onion Bhajias
Mains
- Butter Chicken
- Keralan Prawn Curry
- Aloo Gajar Muttar (potato, carrot and peas curry)
Plus
- Rice (vegan)
- Naan (garlic and plain)
- Raita
Dessert
- Gulab Jamun and ice cream
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FAQs
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
The concert is open to people of all ages. Alcoholic drinks will be served only to those 18 years of age or older - proof of age might be requested.
What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?
The Guild Church of St. Margaret Pattens is situated on the corner of Rood Lane and Eastcheap. (In its vicinity lie various famous London landmark buildings, including Monument).
The closest tube station is Monument (4 minutes walk) and Bank Station is 10 minutes walk away. Six buses stop 4 minutes walk away at Bishopsgate - Fenchurch Street stop) - nos 35, 47, 149, 344 and 388, all of which link to Liverpool Street Station and London Bridge Station. No 15 bus links the church to Aldgate East station: the nearest stop is on Great Tower Street, only 3 minutes walk away. It has very convenient transport connections.
How can I contact the organiser with any specific questions?
You can contact the organiser Gordon Stuteley by email [email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
St Margaret Pattens, Eastcheap, Rood Lane, London, United Kingdom
GBP 27.25 to GBP 43.51
