Royal Borough welcomes Olympic Torch with choral fanfare

The Olympic torch will be welcomed into Holland Park on Thursday 26 July with a choral fanfare provided by the performers of Opera Holland Park, a choir of 150 amateur and professional singers all accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia.

The build-up to the torch's entrance promises to be great fun. Opera Holland Park will give members of the public a chance to become a `one minute maestro' when anyone can take the opportunity to briefly conduct the orchestra. 

Budding Simon Rattles can pick up the baton and see what it's like to put the orchestra through its paces while it plays the overture to Rossini's William Tell, Mozart's overture to the Marriage of Figaro or the high paced thrills of Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, probably better known as the can-can.

The professional performers will also show off their vocal range with some stirring solos including the flower duet from Lakme by Delibes, Nessun Dorma from Turendot by Puccini, Torreador from Carmen by Bizet and O donna e mobile from Rigoletto by Verdi.

There will also be full chorus excerpts including Jerusalem by Parry and the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah by Handel.

In addition to this musical feast there will be a whole host of sporting activities taking place in the park.

From 10am right up until the torch arrives, people can have a go at a `come and try' sports day for all the family. National sporting organisations will be doing demonstrations and running a range of sporting-related activities. Local organisations will be providing information on sports activities and ways to get involved.