Drinking
Songs

“I do confess… I’m drunk, as I live boys, drunk.”

After a sold-out performance at Fidelio Cafe last autumn, we are teaming up with Thomas Guthrie once again to bring our Drinking Songs programme to If Opera Festival… we’ll raise a glass to that!

From gods to lowly humans, royalty to sailors, we’ll be recreating a cellar-full of drink-inspired scenes for you to enjoy. Expect opera arias, jigs, shanties and singalongs by Baroque masters including Purcell, Handel, Cozzolani and Hildegard von Bingen. Join us with a glass in hand to experience this immersive celebration of all things drink! 

Friday 7 August

7pm

If Opera Festival, Church Farm, Wingfield, BA14 9LE

Harpsichord & MD Jonathan Darbourne
Soprano Betty Makharinsky
Baritone Thomas Guthrie
Violin Naomi Burrell
Cello Kate Conway

We performed this programme for the first time on Saturday 4 October 2025 in the beautiful church of St. Mary’s in Drayton Beauchamp. A huge thank you to the Chiltern Society and to our lovely audience for making us feel so welcome!

We went on to perform this programme at a sold-out Fidelio Cafe, 91-95 Clerkenwell Rd, London EC1R 5BX on Monday 27 October 2025.