Coronation Concert
Commemoration concert by various artists
Windsor Castle, venue for the concert
VenueWindsor Castle
Date(s)7 May 2023 (2023-05-07)
Duration124 minutes (televised programme)[1]
ProducerBBC Studios Events Productions
Attendance20,000

The Coronation Concert was a British music concert, held outside Windsor Castle on 7 May 2023, in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The concert, which was attended by 20,000 members of the public, took place between 20:30 and 22:04 (BST) and was hosted by actor Hugh Bonneville.[2][3] The Prince of Wales paid tribute to his father in a short speech.[4]

Production and ticketing

The "Coronation Concert" was held at Windsor Castle's East Lawn.[5][6] The BBC produced, staged, and broadcast the event. A national ballot was held between 10 and 28 February to distribute 5,000 pairs of free tickets for the public based on the geographical spread of the UK population.[5][7] Volunteers from the King and Queen's charities were also among the audience.[5]

The event was broadcast in over 100 countries.[8] The stage enveloped the castle's parapet wall and featured multiple levels and four catwalks.[8] The overall shape resembled that of an abstracted Union Jack.[8] A halo-like screen was placed above the main stage, enveloping the roof, which symbolised the Crown protecting the nation.[8]

It was reported that all the acts performed "for free". BBC studios provided a hair and make-up team, but those artists who wanted to bring their own had to fund them themselves. Both Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were believed to have travelled to the UK by private jet.[9]

Performances

The concert at Windsor Castle

The concert featured performances from artists including a British Army orchestra, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Alexis Ffrench, Zak Abel, Take That featuring Robin Schulz and Calum Scott, Paloma Faith, Tiwa Savage, Steve Winwood, Lang Lang, Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs, Pete Tong, and Sonam Kapoor.[10][11]

Tom Cruise, Dame Joan Collins, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Sir Tom Jones, Hugh Jackman, Alan Titchmarsh, Richard E. Grant, Pierce Brosnan, Bear Grylls, Dynamo, Tracey Emin, Giovanna Fletcher, and Oti Mabuse appeared in a series of pre-recorded sketches and segments.[11] In addition to performances by singers, musicians, and stage and screen actors, the show also featured the 300-voice "Coronation Choir", mentored by Gareth Malone, composed of community choirs and amateur singers such as refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups, and deaf signing choirs.[5][6][12]

The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art also performed together with actors Ncuti Gatwa and Mei Mac and ballet dancers Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé.[8][13]

Spoken word performances on the night were delivered by designer Stella McCartney and actor James Nesbitt, the latter reading a spoken word piece written for the occasion by Daljit Nagra, Chair of the Royal Society of Literature.[14]

Several musical performers – including Sir Elton John, Adele, Harry Styles, Robbie Williams, and the Spice Girls – reportedly turned down the palace's invitation to perform, citing scheduling conflicts.[15] Freya Ridings pulled out of the concert due to illness and was replaced by Zak Abel.[16]

Drone show during the concert

During the performance of the Simple Minds song "Don't You (Forget About Me)", by Alexis Ffrench and Zak Abel, colourful drone displays took place above the stage at Windsor and at other venues across the country. The drones formed together to create different animals and moments in nature, including a blue whale, a bumblebee, a butterfly, a heron and a rabbit.[17]

Setlist

The concert performances, in order, were:

Guests

Royal family

Other

Reception

Overnight viewing figures indicated the concert had an average audience of 10.1 million, peaking at 12.3 million.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "The Coronation of TM The King and Queen Camilla". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Slawson, Nicola (7 May 2023). "Take That, Katy Perry and more entertain 20,000 at coronation concert". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "How to watch the Coronation Concert and TV schedule". BBC News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Perry, Simon (1 May 2023). "Prince William Will Make 'Heartfelt' Speech to Father King Charles at Coronation Concert: Report". People. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Coronation Weekend plans announced". The Royal Family (Press release). 21 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  6. 1 2 Coughlan, Sean (21 January 2023). "King Charles's coronation plans include Windsor concert". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. ↑ "King Charles's coronation concert offers 10,000 free tickets in ballot". BBC News. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Details of staging released ahead of Coronation Concert". BBC. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Willix, Pierra (12 May 2023). "Katy Perry and Lionel Richie had to 'pay for own flights' to Coronation Concert". Metro. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Rackham, Annabel (14 April 2023). "Katy Perry and Lionel Richie to perform at Coronation concert". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  11. 1 2 "BBC announces more world-famous names for Coronation Concert". BBC Media Centre. 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Hall, Sophia Alexandra (7 May 2023). "What is the Coronation Choir and who is singing in it?". Classic FM. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Royal Opera House celebrates the Coronation of King Charles III". Royal Opera House. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Stars including Take That and Kermit the Frog put on a night to remember at spectacular Coronation Concert". BBC Media Centre. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Here Are All the People Who Said No to Performing at King Charles' Coronation". Time. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Iorizzo, Ellie (6 May 2023). "Freya Ridings pulls out of Coronation Concert". The Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Captivating drone display at King's Coronation concert". BBC News. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "The Coronation of TM The King and Queen Camilla". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  19. ↑ Henni, Janine (10 May 2023). "Queen Elizabeth's Grandson Peter Phillips Brings Girlfriend Lindsay Wallace to Coronation Concert". People. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  20. ↑ Sullivan, Marisa (7 May 2023). "Sarah Ferguson Sits With Ex-Husband Prince Andrew at Coronation Concert After Missing Crowning Ceremony". People. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Governor General attends the Coronation Service of His Majesty King Charles III". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  22. ↑ Iorizzo, Ellie (8 May 2023). "Coronation Concert draws TV audience of 10 million". The Independent. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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