22nd March

Concert will begin at 18:00 hours GMT

Turnage's 'Festen' with Clayton, Degout, Finley, Aldridge and Romaniw from London

Mark-Anthony Turnage's 'Festen' is an opera adapted from the cult film by Thomas Vinterberg. Festen is Danish for 'celebration': wealthy hotel owner Helge is throwing a huge party for his 60th birthday. His elder son Christian gives the first speech - and reveals an appalling secret about Helge's past behaviour. Performers:

Christian: Allan Clayton.
Michael, younger son: Stéphane Degout.
Helge: Gerald Finley.
Else, mother: Rosie Aldridge.
Helena, younger daughter: Natalya Romaniw.
Linda, dead twin sister of Christian: Marta Fontanals-Simmons.
Grandma: Susan Bickley.
Grandpa: John Tomlinson.
Helmut, Master of ceremonies: Thomas Oliemans.
Mette, Michael's wife: Philippa Boyle.
Gbatokai, Helena's boyfriend: Peter Brathwaite.
Chef: Aled Hall.
Lars, receptionist: Julian Hubbard.
Pia, waitress: Clare Presland.
Michelle, waitress: Kitty Whately.
Poul, Helge's brother: Jeremy White.
Christine, Poul's wife: Ailish Tynan.
Leif, their son: Eugene Dillon-Hooper.
Bent, old friend: Luke Price.
Lene, Bent's wife: Kiera Lyness.
Stig: Andrew O'Connor.
Trine, Stig's partner: Miranda Westcott.
Renée, Else's cousin: Elizabeth Weisberg.
Lasse, Renée's husband: Patrick Ashcroft.
Bjorn, family friend: Dawid Kimberg.
Kitchen workers: Nicholas Sharratt, Jonathan Fisher.
Solo voices: Esther Mallett, Helen Withers, Andrea Hazell, Cari Searle, Richard Monk, Alex Haigh, Charbel Mattar, Olle Zetterström.

Royal Opera Chorus. Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Edward Gardner.

Recorded.