The concerts

Connaught Opera performed three concerts at Hampton Court Palace at the end of August 2009, which had as their theme 'Kings and Queens', as 2009 is the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne.This is the 5th year that Connaught Opera have performed at the palace. This year the concerts were jointly sponsored by the Thames Community Foundation and The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Singers Maria Arakie, Glenn Wilson and pianist Nicholas Bosworth performed a variety of songs from operas and musicals, all with a royal theme. Maria is famous for her many cotume changes (usually at least six in an hour!), and this year was no exception, as Glenn joined her to transform themselves into Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn amongst others.

This year's concerts enabled around 300 elders from centres in both boroughs to attend the free concerts. In the past concerts have been held in the Banqueting House (see photograph), but this year all were held in the Clore Learning Centre at the palace, enabling superior wheelchair and disabled access.