Latest news with #BantamoftheOpera
Wales Online
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
King Charles gives cancer update saying he is 'on better side'
King Charles gives cancer update saying he is 'on better side' The King has been receiving ongoing cancer care for about 15 months King Charles III meets members of the Bantam of the Opera choir The King has spoken candidly about his cancer treatment saying he would like to think he is on the 'better side' of his journey. Charles's comments were made to a former cancer patient he met during an away-day with the Queen to Bradford to celebrate its status as the UK's City of Culture. The King has been receiving ongoing cancer care for about 15 months since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed from of the disease early in 2024. Florist Safeena Khan spoke to Charles when he visited Impact Hub Yorkshire to meet local business owners supporting diverse communities in Bradford and she presented the King with a bouquet inspired by the garden of his Highgrove home. After chatting to Charles, Ms Khan said: 'He asked me how I was, and I asked him how he was. There was some pleasantries towards the end, but it was a lovely conversation.' The King undergoes regular treatment as an out-patient at the London Clinic and the Bradford florist said he gave her the 'thumbs up' when she asked about his health, and told her: 'I'd like to think I'm on the better side (of my cancer journey)'. The King stepped up his workload at the start of the year following positive progress with his cancer treatment and that has continued despite the 'bump' of spending a short stay in hospital after experiencing temporary cancer treatment side effects in March. Charles will be flying to Canada for the opening of the Commonwealth country's parliament at the end of May and after a busy summer period will be hosting a state visit by France's President Emmanuel Macron when the royal diary is normally winding down. Earlier, the King was left 'flabbergasted' by magician Steven Frayne when he turned newspaper into £20 notes. Bradford-born Frayne impressed Charles at the start of his tour of the Yorkshire city where he recognised another famous son, painter David Hockney, while the Queen visited the nearby home of the Bronte sisters. Teenager Florence McGrellis surprised the King with an impromptu hug when he toured the Hockney Gallery at Cartwright Hall. Article continues below Florence, 15, who has Down's Syndrome, said afterwards it was 'awesome' adding, 'I'm friendly and I'm very helpful, and I'm a hugger', and the King seemed to enjoy the gesture, smiling and patting her on the back. Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, showed the King new tricks he had been working on like an 'athlete' training, when Charles met a group supported by his King's Trust at a refurbished venue which will play a key role during Bradford's cultural year. He told the King he had just finished a run of 50 shows and was making a TV programme and joked 'you should come on it, we've got to tell our story, we go way back'. The entertainer, whose big break came after he was awarded a grant by Charles' trust, added: 'I wouldn't be doing magic today without the support you gave me.' The King replied: 'But it was your determination – you studied.' He produced a handful of note-sized pieces of paper and told the King 'I've got some newspaper clippings but I've been trying to take any bad news and turn it into good news', and as he tapped the paper pile it turned into £20 notes and Charles held the money to verify it. The classic 'pick a card' trick with a twist followed and Charles' apt selection of 'King of Hearts' became the new name for a string of wifi hotspots in the Bradford Live venue when the King named his card. Charles burst into laughter and Frayne said later: 'I've been fortunate to visit him in the royal estate, but it's nice to bring him back to my hood, to my estate – from council estate to royal estate. 'He's created an opportunity for someone (who felt) I'm invisible, there was no hope. It's almost come full circle as now he's back in Bradford, 2025, we're the capital of culture and he's once again inspiring hope and he's inspiring his own type of magic in all these incredible people.' Article continues below Asked about the King's reaction to the magic, the entertainer replied: 'He just said it was absolutely phenomenal and a lot of amazing words that made my magic sound incredible, he said keep going, and said he was flabbergasted.'
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bantam of the Opera choir to perform at Bradford Live
Bradford City fans will open the new Bradford Live music venue with a performance as part of a Yorkshire Day Bantam of the Opera, a group of supporters selected by the BBC, will perform as a choir alongside the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra on 1 fans have been taught to sing opera to mark the city's stint as UK City of Culture as part of a BBC Radio Leeds project has been backed by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, opera singer Lesley Garrett and former City boss and sports presenter Chris Kamara. Members of the choir range from a 90-year-old match-day volunteer at the club to an 18-year-old A-Level at the 3,800-capacity venue were initially scheduled for November 2024, but the shows were cancelled and customers were Live was taken over by Trafalgar Entertainment in February after NEC Group pulled out of running the venue. Initially forecast to cost between £22m and £25m, the venue has been funded by almost £44m from Bradford Council, with the rest coming from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the government and the Heritage Lottery Group had been announced as the operator as long ago as 2017, but pulled out following a "strategic review of its business", according to a spokesperson. 'Unbelievable' Kamara, who had a 20-year playing career and managed Bradford City between 1995 and 1998, will be leading the choir during their performance."It was unbelievable how good they're sounding already," he said after hearing the choir rehearse. "It's great to see the fans unite in such a community driven way."The choir will also perform at Bradford City's stadium to help mark 40 years since the Valley Parade fire, which claimed the lives of 56 singers will be on the pitch at half time during the memorial match, at the final home game of the can follow the journey of the singers, in the BBC Bantam of the Opera podcast on BBC Sound are on sale for the Yorkshire Calling event. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bantam of the Opera singers unveiled as Bradford City football fans prepare to be pitch perfect
Meet the Bradford City football fans who will go from singing on the terraces to wowing audiences after being transformed into opera singers. From a 90-year-old match-day volunteer at the club to a 19-year-old trainee teaching assistant, the choir will be made up of 50 fans from across Bradford who are passionate about the city they call home. The fans - known as the Bantams - will be taught to sing opera to mark the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations as part of a BBC Radio Leeds challenge. Bantam of the Opera will follow their journey which will be packed full of performances as a choir throughout the year, in the lead up to a big finale. The world-renowned BBC Singers will support the Bantam's choir during their development. Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, opera singer Lesley Garrett, and sports commentator and TV presenter Chris Kamara, have all also pledged their support to the campaign. Kamara, who had a 20-year playing career and is also a former manager of Bradford City, led the call-out for singers to take part. The broadcaster, who was diagnosed with the speech condition apraxia in 2022, has said he had used singing to help him with his speech, wellbeing and mental health. 2025 is a special year for Bradford. As well as being the UK City of Culture, in May the city marks 40 years since the Valley Parade stadium fire, which claimed the lives of 56 supporters. In acknowledgement of this anniversary, the Bantam of the Opera singers will perform on the pitch at half time during the memorial match, on the final home game of the season. There were nearly 500 applications to join the choir and BBC Radio Leeds has whittled it down to the final 50. These include Gill Lancaster who has worked at Bradford City since December 1986, the first home game after the fire. Gill has joined the choir with her mother Eileen, who's the oldest member at the age of 90. And Ian Moorhouse who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2018 and sings now for therapeutic reasons as it helps him fight his symptoms. There's also life coach Jane Grey whose father sadly passed away in the Valley Parade fire in 1985. English soprano singer Lesley Garrett will be involved in key moments throughout the year and is an ambassador for Bantam of the Opera. She says: 'This campaign, as part of the Bradford City of Culture year, is a phenomenal opportunity to show that classical and operatic music is available to enjoy for everyone. 'Opera is the most passionate form of singing there is and having heard the Bantams chanting on the terraces at Valley Parade, I know they have so much passion for their club and the city they call home, Bradford. I can't wait to get started to help unlock the potential of these football fans. I think we're going to have so much fun!' James Sills, Choral Leader for Bantam of the Opera, says: 'I'm really looking forward to meeting our fifty singers and can't wait to hear all of their voices comes together for the very first time. Bantam of The Opera isn't just about football fans singing opera, it's about building community and supporting mental health, whilst having a lot of fun along the way. 'And this will be our aim from the very first rehearsal. Hopefully, everyone will leave with a big smile on their face and a song in their heart. Let's go!' Katrina Bunker, BBC Head of Yorkshire, says: 'We like a challenge in Yorkshire and this might be our biggest one yet. Can we turn a bunch of passionate football fans from terrace chanters to choral supremos? It's going to be a fascinating story to see and hear unfold… 'Bantam of the Opera is a great example of how culture is about everyone, especially the people who make a place unique. Our fifty singers all have a story – from the 90 year old superfan to the 19 year old teaching assistant and everyone in between. We can't wait to share how they get on in training, rehearsals and performances.' The programme title is a play on Lord Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, based on the novel by Gaston Leroux. TW2
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Meet the Bradford City fans chosen to be part of new choir
Fifty people have been chosen to be part of the "Bantam of the Opera" choir formed in celebration of Bradford's year as UK City of group of Bradford City fans will come together to perform for a new BBC programme named after the singers include a survivor of the 1985 fire at the club's Valley Parade ground and a player from the disability will be supported by composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, opera singer Lesley Garrett and sports commentator and TV presenter Chris Kamara. Vito Cilenti, 65, a season ticket holder and lifelong Bradford City fan, has been following the Bantams throughout the club's ups and was there when the stadium fire killed 56 spectators in the final match of the season against Lincoln City."It was a glorious sunny day but cold and windy and I was so excited to have made it," Mr Cilenti said."The ground was buzzing with noise and anticipation."I managed to grab one of the last remaining seats in block G and within 40 minutes my euphoria had turned to hell and panic with me frantically scrambling over seats or anything in front of me to get onto the safety of the pitch."I thankfully did and feeling the intense heat through my jacket made me realise just how fortunate I had been."Mr Cilenti is an opera fan through his Italian heritage, but it was a cancer diagnosis that inspired him to do something different."I was diagnosed with lymphoma this time last year and thankfully am now in early remission," he said."I would have never considered applying for anything like this but going through cancer has made me think opportunities have to be taken in life."To be able to take part in such a once in a life time wonderful experience would be amazing and shock my family and friends." Another lifelong Bantam chosen to sing at the stadium is Bali Briscoe, 49, an assistant manager at restaurant Nando' said: "I tried to get the hubby and my three kids involved but they said 'you're on your own mum', so I thought, why not? "I'm always up for a laugh and I love team spirit. I may not be a soprano but I'll definitely give it a good go." Joining Mr Cilenti and Mrs Briscoe are father and son Steve and Matthew 22, played for the Bradford disability football team and has been to Germany and Ireland for said: "I have Down's syndrome and my dad, who cares for me, can't sing, but he makes a lot of noise at the football."He is on a three-year course at Mind the Gap, a learning disability performance and live arts company, and his dream is to meet Andrew Lloyd 62, said he started taking his son to the Bradford Disability Football Club when he was eight years old to keep him fit."I am now one of the match day managers for the club and have been with them to tournaments all around the country and beyond."He added: "I am hoping this project will improve my singing and other Bradford fans' singing so we sound better on a Saturday afternoon."Bradford City FC agreed to support the call out for singers with two community outreach events at Valley Parade in an ambassador for the Bantams choir, said the campaign was a "phenomenal opportunity to show that classical and operatic music is available to enjoy for everyone".She said: "Opera is the most passionate form of singing there is and having heard the Bantams chanting on the terraces at Valley Parade, I know they have so much passion for their club and the city they call home."Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
