Katherine Jenkins Performs Behind Closed Doors at The Royal Albert Hall For VE Day 75 Commemoration
For the first time in its 150-year history, the world-famous Royal Albert Hall plays host to a very special Katherine Jenkins concert behind closed doors, set to boost the morale of millions of people worldwide.
The event will mark the VE Day 75th anniversary on Bank Holiday, Friday 8 May, while bringing together countless nations affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. International Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins, the biggest selling classical artist of the century, will perform on the Royal Albert Hall stage to an empty auditorium. The half-hour concert will be streamed to audiences around the world via YouTube at 6pm BST and is the first performance of the #RoyalAlbertHome series to come from the Hall itself. It follows on from Katherine’s successful at home lockdown concerts which have amassed over 2 million streams to date.
This unique concert is made possible by funding from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, as part of #LondonTogether, and will be introduced with a video message from the Mayor. #LondonTogether invites Londoners to highlight great examples of positive community action and gives much deserved appreciation for the work of our health and care staff, emergency services, key workers and volunteers.
The event is in support of the Royal Albert Hall’s fundraising appeal and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity’s Emergency Response Fund.
Katherine says: “In London on VE Day 1945, over a million people celebrated Victory in Europe and the end of nearly six years of war. Crowds gathered en masse in Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Buckingham Palace and whilst we may not be able to celebrate this year as we once did, it’s only right that we don’t allow the 75th anniversary of this historic day to be overshadowed. Having been part of the 60th and 70th events, I wanted to do something to help bring the nation and the world together in commemoration and celebration at this difficult time. I’m excited that we can still come together, albeit virtually, for a tribute of wartime songs and musical memories from London’s most iconic concert venue. The Royal Albert Hall will be seen like never before – empty, isolated and yet still breathtakingly magnificent!”
The concert will give the nation a moment to pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the Second World War and salute the country’s VE Day Veterans, many of whom are experiencing uncertainty and isolation. It is also our opportunity to thank the Armed Forces who, alongside the NHS and many others, are coming together to serve the country.
To donate to SSAFA’s Emergency Response Fund, go to ssaf.as/vedonate or text 75VEDAY 5 to 70085 to donate £5.
Text donations cost £5 plus a standard rate message.
The Royal Albert Hall event, ‘VE Day 75’, originally due to take place on 8 May 2020, hosted by Katherine Jenkins and streamed live to over 450 cinemas UK wide, is now postponed to Sunday 20 September 2020, due to the Government’s Coronavirus restrictions.
More information at www.veday75.co.uk.