Summer of Love 2026 Concert of Operatic Arias & Classical Song
About this Event
Join us for another of our unique events - a gala concert of music and arias on the universal theme of love combined with servings of some of our high quality Italian wines! Featuring arias from best loved operas and wonderful classical songs by Italian & other composers.
CREDIT: Design of Banner Picture based on Graphic design by Marina Mattos.
As an example, a performance by tenor Tom Lidgley - see video link
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UPDATE
MON 8th JUNE 2026 NEW PIANIST: We are delighted to welcome Daniel Peter Silcock as pianist and accompanist! (He will take over from Wend Soon Tee, who has had to leave the concert owing to a new professional commitment.)
SUN 7th JUNE 2026 NEW ARTISTE: Mezzo-sopano Hayley Meth will be joining our already illustrious line-up of singing talent! She will bring a very welcome mezzo repertoire to our music programme.
SAT 6th JUNE 2026 POST-CONCERT Nepalese Dinner Option We will be arranging a Special Offer Nepalese Dinner at GURKHAS in Balham. Details of the Set Menu will shown when confirmed (please scroll down).
FRIDAY 5th JUNE 2026 Launch of tickets sales! We offer 3 ticket types (frozen at, or less than, 2025 pricing!):
STANDARD £23.50* - 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 £30.50* - 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 £37.50* - 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.
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OUR BRILLIANT ARTISTES
In our very impressive multi-national line-up*, we are delighted to present Lithuanian soprano Valerija Iljin, an alumna of both Trinity Laban & The Royal Academy of Music, who performs internationally. She will be joined by British spinto tenor Tom Lidgley, who recently gained his Masters degree from the Royal Academy of Music, and American (Hong Kong born) tenor, Michael Lam - who also works as a vocal professor. Addendum (7/6/26) In addition, mezzo-soprano Hayley Meth, will join our concert, bringing to the show a very welcome mezzo-soprano repertoire!
The singers will draw you into a magical operatic world of passionate emotional highs with their glorious voices and superb technique - accompanied on the Steinweg Nachf Grand piano by the very able and sought-after collaborative pianist, Malaysian-born Weng Soon Tee!
Addendum (8/6/26) Owing to unforseen circumstances, Weng is unable to be at our concert. Our collaborative pianist will now be Scottish pianist Daniel Peter Silcock who is an accomplished song accompanist.
See the Artistes' Bios below.
Songs to be featured in the concert - to be determined:
We plan to include soprano, tenor and mezzo-soprano operatic arias (including duets) from the Italian great opera composers such as Puccini and Verdi (with a focuse on Verdi'a La Traviata). We are also looking to tenor Michael Lam to sing, not only Western operatic classics, but also some Mandarin / Cantonese art / traditional / popular songs!
(*NB. 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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SUMMER of LOVE 2026 - EVENT TIMETABLE (Approx. timetable)
17:30 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 :
BELOW is an example of the wines we serve at our concerts - which is the wine-list for "Spring and Romance 2026" - (to give an idea of what to expect). We will update this section with the wine list for the Summer of Love 2026 concert ASAP.
WELCOME
- Torti Casaleggio Sparkling Charmat Rosè NV 12% sparkling, Lombardy Blend of Pinot Nero & Chardonnay grapes. Fully sparkling wine, it has a sweet floral and subtly spicy aroma.
- Rosé 4 you Spumante Brut NV 11% Rosato, Romagna With flavours of plum, red cherries and red berries, this sparkling wine is smooth and refreshing.
INTERMISSION
Selection for PREMIUM Ticketholders
- Vignetti Radica Terre d'Abruzzo Pecorino Bio 2024 IGT 12.5% White, Abruzzo Intensely fruity and well structured wine, with plenty of zesty citrus and white fruit notes.
- Fontana Reale 'Merlonero' Merlot IGT 15% Bio Red, Campania Big, opulent, intensely fruity organic red wine,.bursting with ripe loganberry, raspberry & blackberry fruit flavours, with a hint of liquorice.
- Torti Pinot Noir 2018 IGT 13% Red. Lombardy Delicate perfumes of black cherry, strawberry fl avors and raspberry that lightly dance upon the palate
Selection for Standard Ticketholders
- Scolari Bianco della Casa 12.5% White, Lombardy Soft and mellow, light to medium bodied wine. Some ripe stonefruit, melon and citrus notes, with a hint of pear with a hint of bitterness. Good acidity.
- Cantine Mami Cabernet 12% Red, Campania Medium bodied, soft and fruity wine with some black berry (blackcurrant) and green capsicum notes.
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Artistes' Biographies
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).
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.
Michael TK Lam is a tenor originally from Hong Kong, graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, after earning master’s degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from University College London (UCL) and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC). In 2022, he made his New York debut with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble’s Young Artist Program, performing in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and Lucero’s Juana. Apart from performances in the US and UK, he has appeared at music festivals and opera productions in Austria and Italy. His artistry has been recognized with awards including first place at the New England Music Festival and the graduate division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition in Las Vegas.
is an American mezzo-soprano originally from New York, currently pursuing her second year of postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She has played and covered many operatic roles including Mozart operatic roles such as Annio in La clemenza di Tito, Dritte Knabe in Die Zauberflöte and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro (with Palisades Opera). Recent engagements include performances as Suor Dolcina in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, presented as part of both the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms in August 2025.
is a Scottish pianist particularly active as a song accompanist. He has performed at the world’s top music centres, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, and at Wigmore Hall in London, and alongside distinguished artists such as the late Dame Felicity Lott and Catherine Wyn-Rogers. He has recently played in festivals including Music at Paxton, the Petworth Festival, and the Zeist International Lied Festival in the Netherlands.
Weng Soon Tee is a Malaysian-born pianist who studied at post-graduate level at the Guildhall School of Music under the tutelage of Carole Presland. Weng is a versatile pianist - regularly performing as a chamber musician, orchestral pianist, song accompanist as well as a solo concert pianist. His notable engagements include performing Debussy songs in the Barbican Hall, chamber music recitals at the Torroella Fringe Festival and at the Esplanade in Singapore, attending the prestigious IMS Prussia Cove course working with Thomas Adès and Gidon Kremer, and performing as a soloist with the Southern Sinfonia under the baton of Simon Chalk. As winner of the Watford International Piano Competition and the Else Cross Contemporary Prize, Weng was praised by the judges for 'representing the music in such a sincere and understated way' and for being 'a pianist of exceptional imagination'.
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OPTIONAL Post-Concert Dinner
- Special 'SUMMER OF LOVE' NEPALESE Dinner (Set Menu) Option
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?
Info to be added.
How can I contact the organiser with any specific questions?
You can contact the organiser Gordon Stuteley by email [email protected]
Extra special offer for concert-goers - a fine Nepalese dinner 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).
MENU - details to be confirmed and will be added here once confirmed
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 26.16 to GBP 41.34
