Warm honey drizzled on fresh fruit, lazy ripples on a sun-soaked lake, a slow submersion in a hot bath…those are just a few things that spring to mind when listening to the soulful vocals of award-winning singer-songwriter Celeste. Now add to that the soft, flickering glow from hundreds of candles illuminating the architecture of a century-old London venue, sounds pretty dreamy right? Well, sometimes dreams come true; a candlelight concert will be lighting up Central Hall on December 17, with Celeste taking to the stage for a no doubt mesmerising live performance accompanied by London Contemporary Orchestra. You’ll want to grab your tickets for this one quickly as they’ll disappear faster than you can say Stop This Flame.
You’ll likely be familiar with the smooth sounds of American-born, British-Jamaican singer-songwriter Celeste, whose career has been on an upward trajectory since topping the annual BBC Sound Of… poll in 2019. To date, her honey-dipped vocals and songwriting talents have earned her three Brit Award nominations, won her the prestigious Ivor Novello and even led to an Oscar nomination for her song ‘Hear My Voice’; which featured in the Aaron Sorkin film Trial of the Chicago 7. You can’t help but fall under the spell of Celeste’s magnetic voice – with its heady mix of jazz, R&B and soul instantly transporting you to smoky speakeasy clubs – while her modern, romantic lyrics keep things relatable and reflective.
This December, Robert Ames, the renowned British conductor, curator and arranger, will be putting on a show to remember, fusing the bewitching live vocals of Celeste with the talents of London Contemporary Orchestra within the magical atmosphere of Fever’s popular Candlelight concerts. Ames is the co-Founder, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the London Contemporary Orchestra and has worked with musicians such as Taylor Swift, Jamie XX and Frank Ocean. The concert comes as a result of a collaboration between Ames, Fever and curator MAHOGANY, whose flagship Mahogany Session performances are watched by millions across the world, having featured the likes of Billie Eilish, Bastille, Michael Kiwanuka and many more. One thing is for sure, you know you’ll be in good hands with these three at the helm.
The one-of-a-kind event will unfold on a fittingly festive evening the week before Christmas, inviting you to escape the winter chill for the evening as you sit back under Central Hall Westminster’s striking domed ceiling. With nothing but the soft glow of candles to illuminate the interiors, casting every historic feature with a golden light, the cavernous space will be transformed into an intimate setting. You’ll be able to lose yourself in the sublime sound of Celeste and the hypnotic sweeping bows of the London Contemporary Orchestra to forget the world for an evening. Make sure to grab your tickets quick if you want to count yourself among the crowds who will be there on December 17.