The Sheriff's Opera - Original Musical Adaptation of Tale of Two Cities

Hannah Gordon, Nelly Miricioiou & Andrew Greenwood to lead original musical adaptation of Tale of Two Cities for Lord Mayor’s Appeal


Dickens Tale of Two Cities is to be reworked into a unique musical tale for this year’s Lord Mayors Appeal in which a man and a bear, like the famous Lord Mayor Dick Whittington and his cat, leave the delights of Paris to travel to London through the port of Le Havre.

A Bear of Two Cities was inspired by the current Lord Mayor’s original title, Michael Bear, and the name of his Appeal - Bear Necessities. Narrated by legendary Scots actress Hannah Gordon, this contemporary opera stars the great diva soprano, Nelly Miricioiou. She is accompanied by The Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra and Chorus and conducted by Andrew Greenwood, who will lead this operatic evening on 16 September in The Great Hall at Guildhall.

Organised in age-old tradition by the Sheriffs of the City of London - this year Alderman Sheriff Woolf and Sheriff Sermon - as a fundraising event for the Appeal, the opera celebrates music written by Verdi, Puccini and Donizetti which is all set in Paris, Le Havre and the Tower of London. It will include elements of La Traviata, Manon Lescaut and Anna Bolena.

Sponsoring the concert are four companies whose business interests perfectly match the subject of the Opera. Payden and Rygel, Veolia Water, Credit Agricole and CMS Legal all operate between London, Paris and beyond.

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal this year benefits Coram, the UK’s first ever children’s charity which continues to offer better chances in life to London’s children and young people from its original 1739 site in Bloomsbury, and RedR, a disaster relief charity that trains aid workers and supplies skilled professionals to humanitarian programmes worldwide.

Alderman Sheriff Fiona Woolf said: ‘The Appeal is very lucky to benefit from two such extraordinary musicians on this wonderful and unique night. Andrew Greenwood is one of the most experienced conductors in the UK and Nelly Miricioiou has featured in all the major opera houses of the world. It will be a very special event indeed’

‘With such distinguished musical talent and with Hannah Gordon as the narrator we are assured of a very memorable evening’ added Sherriff Richard Sermon.