Django at the Cafe
What you need to know:
Doors open at 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
The performance will feature two jazz sessions, starting at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm respectively.
Food and wine will be available to purchase throughout the night.
ONE OF FIDELIO’S MOST POPULAR GIGS, ARGUABLY THE BEST WAY TO
SPEND A MONDAY EVENING IN LONDON!
Django Reinhardt was a groundbreaking and deeply influential jazz guitarist. Born in Belgium in 1910 and raised in France, Reinhardt was of Romani heritage and overcame a life-changing injury that left two fingers of his left hand severely damaged. Despite this, he developed a unique style of playing that combined a distinctive and virtuosic technique with the expressive melodies of Romani music and the swing rhythms of jazz. Reinhardt co-founded the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, popularising the genre known as gypsy jazz. His contributions to jazz guitar and innovative improvisations continue to inspire musicians around the world to this day.
Join us as we celebrate Django’s iconic artistry with an evening of hot swing in the cafe’s downstairs bar. Our talented musicians draw inspiration from traditional Django, modern manouche, and even classical greats, creating a special homage to one of jazz’s true legends.
Lineup:
Ray Rafols – Violin
Cornelius Corkery – Guitar
Sol Grimshaw – Guitar
Toby Yapp – Bass
Ljubica Stojanović, 15 September
Mozart Piano Concertos
Three of Mozart’s early concertos heard in piano and string quartet version featuring Serbian pianist Ljubica Stojanović and members of the Fidelio Orchestra. The programme includes the first of Mozart’s piano concertos (K.238) to give the piano a proper stage with developed solo passages. Concerto No. 13 is perhaps the first concerto in its genre to fully acknowledge the possibility of the piano as a solo instrument in an ensemble.
About the soloist
Based in Berlin, Ljubica is a regular guest at some of London’s most prestigious concert venues. Performing regularly at the Barbican Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, and Berlin Philharmonia, Ljubica’s sound is described as glowing, and her playing is characterized by spontaneity in risk-taking. A Graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and Universität der Künste in Berlin, Ljubica is an international soloist and chamber musician with over 20 competitions to her name.
Credit: Doville Sermokas
Programme:
W. A. Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major K. 415
Piano Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major K. 238
Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat major K. 449
Ljubica Stojanović, piano
Yeva Volkava, violin
Kayla Nicol,violin
Sirma Baramova, viola
William Lui, cello
Fidelio Orchestra: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
A programme of music shaped around imprisonment, coercion and escape through music. Centring around Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, it features a forgotten symphony by Viktor Ullman - a Czech composer imprisoned in Theresienstadt before being sent to die in Auschwitz - the prelude to the second act of Fidelio and an orchestral arrangement by Joachim Raff of Bach’s Chaconne in D minor. All these works deal with a sense of impotency in front of adverse circumstances and make us reflect on the extraordinary musical energy provided by these rigid boundaries.
Tchaikovsky is interpreted by Catherina Lee, an Australian violinist described by Marin Alsop as a “beautiful musician” and regularly mentored by Janine Jansen.
Programme:
L. van Beethoven (1770-1827) Prelude to Second Act from Fidelio
V. Ullman (1898-1944) Symphony No. 2
P. I. Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893) Violin Concerto Op. 35
J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Chaconne in D minor (Orchestral arrangement by J. Raff)
Catherina Lee, violin
Raffaello Morales, conductor
Fidelio Orchestra
Photo: Sofija Palurović
Ljubica Stojanović, 22 September
Mozart Piano Concertos
Three of Mozart’s early concertos heard in piano and string quartet version featuring Serbian pianist Ljubica Stojanović and members of the Fidelio Orchestra. The programme includes the first of Mozart’s piano concertos (K.238) to give the piano a proper stage with developed solo passages. Concerto No. 13 is perhaps the first concerto in its genre to fully acknowledge the possibility of the piano as a solo instrument in an ensemble.
About the soloist
Based in Berlin, Ljubica is a regular guest at some of London’s most prestigious concert venues. Performing regularly at the Barbican Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, and Berlin Philharmonia, Ljubica’s sound is described as glowing, and her playing is characterized by spontaneity in risk-taking. A Graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and Universität der Künste in Berlin, Ljubica is an international soloist and chamber musician with over 20 competitions to her name.
Credit: Doville Sermokas
Programme:
W. A. Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major K. 415
Piano Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major K. 238
Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat major K. 449
Ljubica Stojanović, piano
Yeva Volkava, violin
Kayla Nicol,violin
Sirma Baramova, viola
William Lui, cello
Apollo’s Cabinet, 1 October
Apollo’s Jukebox: Baroque hits, bawdy ballads & audience requests – live from an 18th century pub
Forget stuffy concerts with velvet seats and polite applause. Apollo’s Jukebox takes you back to the 18th-century music rooms where tunes weren’t just played — they were ordered.
Back then, there was no unlimited streaming or public concert halls where anyone could pick what they wanted to hear. In early 1700s Paris, Vienna, or Rome, unless you were royalty or a wealthy patron, new music was pretty much off limits. The idea that anyone, no matter their background, could choose the music was revolutionary — and it all started in Britain.
In 1672, violinist John Banister kicked off a real revolution by inviting paying guests into his own home, offering a simple but radical deal: you choose the music, we play it. For a shilling, the audience picked the programme.
This was the birth of a new, democratic way of experiencing music. The idea caught on fast, shifting music from palace halls to pubs and city streets.
This programme picks up that spirit today: with a musical menu in one hand and a shilling in the other, expect rowdy street songs, lively dances, moving arias, and gossip fresh from Georgian London’s tabloids. Forget concert formality - it’s about good music, great stories, and a proper pint.
And the best part? The audience call the shots and there will be quiz questions, mini-games and many surprises to help you choose.
Food and drinks available to purchase on the night before and after the show.
Sofia Sacco, 20 October
Borders of Time: Baroque meets contemporary
Two periods of classical music at polar opposite ends, yet unexpectedly bridged across time.
French Baroque music, with its elegant, light miniatures depicting the natural world, finds an echo in the music of Olivier Messiaen, where birdsong, colour, and wonder are transformed into vivid, concentrated works. A similar spirit appears in the music of the Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu, whose luminous writing blends the delicacy of haiku-like songs with rhythms that at times seem to glance back toward the grace and vitality of the Baroque tradition.
During the XX century, Russia turned as well to Baroque but looked instead toward the monumental legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach. His music was revered, and its influence lives on in the works of Dmitri Kabalevsky and Dmitri Shostakovich. Beneath their modern language lies the enduring pulse of Bach’s timeless polyphonic art.
Programme:
F. Couperin: Le Rossignol en amour
T. Yoshimatsu: Memory of an interlude
F. Couperin: Les tricoteuses
O. Messiaen: Rondeau
O. Messiaen: La colombe
J. P. Rameau: La Poule
T. Yoshimatsu: Platan Dance
T. Yoshimatsu: Static Dream Pavane
J. P. Rameau: Le rappel des oiseaux
T. Yoshimatsu: Interlude with birds
F. Couperin: Le Rossignol en amour (double)
D. Kabalevsky: Prelude and fugue n. 1
J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fughetta in G major
D. Shostakovich: Sonata n. 2
Sofia Sacco, piano
Imogen Cooper, 3 November - SOLD OUT
Imogen Cooper’s final London solo recital (PLEASE GET IN TOUCH FOR RETURNS AND WAITING LIST)
Join legendary pianist Imogen Cooper on her last solo piano recital in London ahead of her announced retirement in February 2027. As a farewell concert she has chosen Schubert's two sets of Impromptus, the most ideal music for the intimate setting of the Fidelio Cafe. Tickets include a three course set meal which will be announced two weeks ahead of the concert date.
The ticket price includes a three course meal as below:
Jerusalem artichoke velouté, crispy artichokes and roasted hazelnuts
-
Roasye guinea fowl, truffle mash potato, roasted shallots, cavolo nero and red wine demi-glace OR
Wild mushroom and chestnut wellington, celeriac purée, roast baby vegetables and red wine demi-glace (v)
-
Dark chocolate delice, salted caramel and hazelnut praline
Programme*:
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
4 Impromptus Op.90
4 Impromptus Op.142
Imogen Cooper, piano
*There will be a short 5 minute interval between the two sets of Impromptus.
Fidelio Orchestra: Mahler 6
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CONCERT DOES NOT TAKE PLACE AT THE FIDELIO CAFE
The Fidelio Orchestra presents a performance of Mahler’s sixth symphony preceded by a conversation and Q&A with the public.
Dealing with the Tragic in Life: Mahler, Judaism and Beyond
A pre-concert conversation with Raffaello Morales, Edward Seckerson and Anthony Freud
Mahler's Sixth Symphony is often known as the "Tragic". Yet it was composed during one of the happiest periods of the composer's life. Why, then, did Mahler return so insistently to questions of suffering, fate and loss? And what can his music teach us about how we confront tragedy?
Before Fidelio Orchestra's performance of this extraordinary work, join Raffaello Morales, Edward Seckerson and Anthony Freud for a conversation exploring the power of art to illuminate life's darkest experiences.
Born into a Jewish family in nineteenth-century Bohemia and living in a Europe marked by social and cultural upheaval, Mahler wrestled throughout his life with questions of identity, belonging, faith and meaning. These concerns find powerful expression in his music, which moves between hope and despair, tenderness and violence, transcendence and catastrophe.
Taking Mahler's Sixth Symphony as a starting point, this discussion will explore how artists respond to suffering, whether tragedy can deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world, and why Mahler's vision continues to resonate so strongly in our own uncertain times.
Speakers
Raffaello Morales is founder and artistic director of Fidelio Orchestra and Fidelio Café. Trained as both a classical pianist and a physicist, he holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from King's College London and is the author of The Earth to the Skies.
Edward Seckerson is a writer, broadcaster and podcaster with an obsession about Gustav Mahler. In his life he has interviewed everybody from Lenny Bernstein to Liza Minelli, from Paul McCartney to Julie Andrews. On television, he has commentated at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition on a number of occasions. He has published books on Gustav Mahler and the conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, and has been one of Gramophone Magazine‘s review panel for many years.
Anthony Freud has had a long career as a music manager, running institutions such as Sadler’s Wells, Welsh National Opera and the Chicago Lyric Opera. He has a predilection for the music of Gustav Mahler and would take Mahler’s third symphony to a desert island as his only music.
The event is co-promoted by the Jewish Literary Foundation.
Chen Reiss, Eloïse Bella Kohn, 24 November
Vienna 1900
Arguably the best Mahler soprano in the world, but also described by Classical Source as “one of the most perfect Strauss voices you could wish for”, soprano Chen Reiss is joined by pianist Eloïse Bella Kohn for an evening of music from early twentieth century Viennese music centred around the figure of Gustav Mahler. The duo will presents songs by Mahler, Korngold, Alfred Grünfeld, Zemlinksy and more. Join them for a magical and musical experience accompanied by food and drinks in the autumnal context of the Fidelio Cafe.
Credit: Paul March Mitchell
Credit: Marianne Rosenstiehl
Programme:
ALEXANDER VON ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942)
Walzer-Gesänge
GUSTAV MAHLER (1860-1911)
Rückert-Lieder
ALBAN BERG (1885-1935)
Sieben frühe Lieder
ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD (1897-1957)
Geschichten von Strauss Op.21
Vier Lieder Op. 9
Chen Reiss, soprano
Eloïse Bella-Köhn, piano
What you need to know:
Doors open at 6:00pm with music beginning at 6:30pm. Snacks and drinks available to purchase ahead of the performance and full dinner service available after the concert from 7:45pm. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket.
Schubert’s Trout Quintet - SOLD OUT
Classic FM’s rising star and winner of the Guildhall School’s prestigious Gold Medal, Bassist Strahinja Mitrovic and Forbes Georgia 30 under 30 pianist, Salome Jordania, is joined by members of the Fidelio Orchestra to present Schubert’s timeless Trout Quintet, paired with J-B Barriere’s Sonata for Cello and Double Bass. Join us for an evening of energy and fun played by award winning musicians!
Programme
Jean-Baptiste Barriere: Sonata for Cello and Double Bass in G Major
I - Andante
II - Adagio
III - Allegro Prestissimo
Franz Schubert: Piano Quintet in A major, D.667
I - Allegro Vivace
II - Andante
III - Scherzo
IV - Andantino - Allegretto
V - Allegro Giusto
Lineup
Violin: Tiago Silva
Viola: Suzie Qiu
Cello: William Lui
Bass: Strahinja Mitrovic
Piano: Salome Jordania
What you need to know
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 6:30 pm. Food and wine will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
Django at the Cafe
What you need to know:
Doors open at 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
The performance will feature two jazz sessions, starting at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm respectively.
Food and wine will be available to purchase throughout the night.
ONE OF FIDELIO’S MOST POPULAR GIGS, ARGUABLY THE BEST WAY TO
SPEND A MONDAY EVENING IN LONDON!
Django Reinhardt was a groundbreaking and deeply influential jazz guitarist. Born in Belgium in 1910 and raised in France, Reinhardt was of Romani heritage and overcame a life-changing injury that left two fingers of his left hand severely damaged. Despite this, he developed a unique style of playing that combined a distinctive and virtuosic technique with the expressive melodies of Romani music and the swing rhythms of jazz. Reinhardt co-founded the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, popularising the genre known as gypsy jazz. His contributions to jazz guitar and innovative improvisations continue to inspire musicians around the world to this day.
Join us as we celebrate Django’s iconic artistry with an evening of hot swing in the cafe’s downstairs bar. Our talented musicians draw inspiration from traditional Django, modern manouche, and even classical greats, creating a special homage to one of jazz’s true legends.
Lineup:
Ray Rafols – Violin
Cornelius Corkery – Guitar
Sol Grimshaw – Guitar
Toby Yapp – Bass
London Brahms Trio: Rachmaninov Trios
Hear Rachmaninov’s much celebrated two trios in one single evening performed by the north-London-based London Brahms Trio. Both these works were written before the turn of the century, when Rachmaninov was still a broadly unknown composer and wanted to pay tribute to his mentor Tchaikovsky. Late romanticism and soaring melodies abound, making these trios timeless hits for all ears and hearts.
Programme:
S. Rachmaninov (1870-1943)
Piano Trio No. 1 in G-minor Op. post. Trio élégiaque
Piano Trio No. 2 in D minor Op. 9
London Brahms Trio
Erika Eisele, violin
Armand d’Angour, cello
Kobi Kremnizer, piano
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 6:30 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 7:00 pm. Food and drinks will be available to purchase on the night after the concert.
Echoes of Bohemia: The Albero Trio with Martinū, Suk and Smetana
In this concert, the Albero Trio — comprised of musicians from the Fidelio Orchestra — explores the Czech piano trio tradition, pairing the rhythmic vitality of Bohuslav Martinů’s Bergerettes with the introspective beauty of Josef Suk’s Elegy, before culminating in Bedřich Smetana’s dramatic Piano Trio in G minor. Performed in the intimate setting of the Fidelio Café, this evening invites audiences to experience these powerful works at arm’s length — honest, direct, and unforgettable.
Programme:
Bohuslav Martinů
Bergerettes for Violin, Cello and Piano, H. 275 (1939)
Josef Suk
Elegy for Piano Trio op.23
Bedřich Smetana
Piano Trio in G minor
Lineup:
Kayla Nicol, violin
Josh Lucas, cello
Owen Lee, piano
What you need to know
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 6:30 pm. Food and wine will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
Fidelio Orchestra with Roberts Balanas: Philip Glass and Gershwin
A concert of twentieth century masterpieces which took a step away from the nineteenth century tradition. And yet managed to achieve great popularity.
Angelo Villani (sold out)
“Who needs an orchestra when you have Angelo Villani” – Sean Rafferty
“Exquisite. Simply exquisite. Such longing and beauty” – Stephen Fry
Australian pianist Angelo Villani returns for two recitals including some of the tunes he’s most famous for.
Villani has performed extensively in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, and has received coverage on major media, including Classic FM and live BBC interviews and performances. The release of his debut album, Angelo Villani plays Dante’s Inferno, garnered considerable praise and earned five star reviews in International Piano, The Independent, and a ‘Tokusen’ (specially recommended recording) in The Record Geijutsu.
Angelo has received considerable acclaim for his highly charged yet intensely poetic Romantic style, commended by esteemed artists including Nikolai Demidenko and Daniel-Ben Pienaar, and also in the musical press by prominent critics including Jessica Duchen and Bryce Morrison. His luminous pianism, with a style that has been described as an incandescent yet soulful lyricism, encompasses a wide repertoire centred – yet not exclusive to – the composers of the late Romantic era. Villani’s recitals frequently feature his own paraphrases on great romantic works, including Purcell’s Dido’s Lament, and Wagner’s Tristan & Isolde.
Programme:
Mozart Concerto 488 adagio, Villani transcription
Scarlatti Sonata in Fm K466
Chopin Polonaise in C-sharp minor op.26 no. 1
Chopin Nocturne in C-sharp minor op. Posth
Schumann Kinderszenen, Kind im Einschlummern
Schumann Kinderszenen, Der Dichter spricht
Liszt Petrarch Sonnet No. 123
Rachmaninoff/ Villani Fantasia on Piano Concerto no.2 (Adagio Sostenuto)
Wagner/ Liszt/ Villani Tristan Fantasy
Wagner Villani Walkure Fantasy
Angelo Villani – Piano
What you need to know:
Join us from 6:30 pm for an aperitivo before the music starts. The concert begins at 7:00 and runs for an hour, after which dinner and drinks will be served. Your ticket includes the concert, a three course meal and a glass of Prosecco. Additional wine and beverages can be ordered on the night. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. Please let us know of any dietary requirements at checkout.
Angelo Villani (sold out)
“Who needs an orchestra when you have Angelo Villani” – Sean Rafferty
“Exquisite. Simply exquisite. Such longing and beauty” – Stephen Fry
Australian pianist Angelo Villani returns for two recitals including some of the tunes he’s most famous for.
Villani has performed extensively in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, and has received coverage on major media, including Classic FM and live BBC interviews and performances. The release of his debut album, Angelo Villani plays Dante’s Inferno, garnered considerable praise and earned five star reviews in International Piano, The Independent, and a ‘Tokusen’ (specially recommended recording) in The Record Geijutsu.
Angelo has received considerable acclaim for his highly charged yet intensely poetic Romantic style, commended by esteemed artists including Nikolai Demidenko and Daniel-Ben Pienaar, and also in the musical press by prominent critics including Jessica Duchen and Bryce Morrison. His luminous pianism, with a style that has been described as an incandescent yet soulful lyricism, encompasses a wide repertoire centred – yet not exclusive to – the composers of the late Romantic era. Villani’s recitals frequently feature his own paraphrases on great romantic works, including Purcell’s Dido’s Lament, and Wagner’s Tristan & Isolde.
Programme:
Mozart Concerto 488 adagio, Villani transcription
Scarlatti Sonata in Fm K466
Chopin Polonaise in C-sharp minor op.26 no. 1
Chopin Nocturne in C-sharp minor op. Posth
Schumann Kinderszenen, Kind im Einschlummern
Schumann Kinderszenen, Der Dichter spricht
Liszt Petrarch Sonnet No. 123
Rachmaninoff/ Villani Fantasia on Piano Concerto no.2 (Adagio Sostenuto)
Wagner/ Liszt/ Villani Tristan Fantasy
Wagner Villani Walkure Fantasy
Angelo Villani – Piano
What you need to know:
Join us from 6:30 pm for an aperitivo before the music starts. The concert begins at 7:00 and runs for an hour, after which dinner and drinks will be served. Your ticket includes the concert, a three course meal and a glass of Prosecco. Additional wine and beverages can be ordered on the night. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. Please let us know of any dietary requirements at checkout.
Angelo Villani (sold out)
“Who needs an orchestra when you have Angelo Villani” – Sean Rafferty
“Exquisite. Simply exquisite. Such longing and beauty” – Stephen Fry
Australian pianist Angelo Villani returns for two recitals including some of the tunes he’s most famous for.
Villani has performed extensively in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, and has received coverage on major media, including Classic FM and live BBC interviews and performances. The release of his debut album, Angelo Villani plays Dante’s Inferno, garnered considerable praise and earned five star reviews in International Piano, The Independent, and a ‘Tokusen’ (specially recommended recording) in The Record Geijutsu.
Angelo has received considerable acclaim for his highly charged yet intensely poetic Romantic style, commended by esteemed artists including Nikolai Demidenko and Daniel-Ben Pienaar, and also in the musical press by prominent critics including Jessica Duchen and Bryce Morrison. His luminous pianism, with a style that has been described as an incandescent yet soulful lyricism, encompasses a wide repertoire centred – yet not exclusive to – the composers of the late Romantic era. Villani’s recitals frequently feature his own paraphrases on great romantic works, including Purcell’s Dido’s Lament, and Wagner’s Tristan & Isolde.
Programme:
Mozart Concerto 488 adagio, Villani transcription
Scarlatti Sonata in Fm K466
Chopin Polonaise in C-sharp minor op.26 no. 1
Chopin Nocturne in C-sharp minor op. Posth
Schumann Kinderszenen, Kind im Einschlummern
Schumann Kinderszenen, Der Dichter spricht
Liszt Petrarch Sonnet No. 123
Rachmaninoff/ Villani Fantasia on Piano Concerto no.2 (Adagio Sostenuto)
Wagner/ Liszt/ Villani Tristan Fantasy
Wagner Villani Walkure Fantasy
Angelo Villani – Piano
What you need to know:
Join us from 6:30 pm for an aperitivo before the music starts. The concert begins at 7:00 and runs for an hour, after which dinner and drinks will be served. Your ticket includes the concert, a three course meal and a glass of Prosecco. Additional wine and beverages can be ordered on the night. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. Please let us know of any dietary requirements at checkout.
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
Evolving Romanticism: Milhaud String Trio, Schumann Piano Quartet
Robert Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat major stands as one of the great Romantic masterworks: expansive, warm, and deeply human. Its soaring melodies and richly blended textures capture Schumann at his most lyrical and intimate, offering a glimpse into the expressive heart of 19th-century chamber music. In contrast, Darius Milhaud’s rarely heard String Trio, composed in 1947, reveals a strikingly different sound world. Written after the composer’s return to France from wartime exile, the trio is concise yet brilliantly layered.
Programme:
Darius Milhaud, String Trio No. 1 Op. 274
I. Vif II.Modéré III. Sérénade IV. Canon V. Jeu Fugue
Robert Schumann, Piano Quartet in E flat Major Op. 47
I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo II. Scherzo. Molto Vivace III. Andante Cantabile IV. Finale. Vivace
Lineup:
Basil Alter – Violin
Connor Quigley – Viola
William Lui – Cello
Kwanyee Chan – Piano
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 6:30 pm. Food and wine will be available to purchase on the night.
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
Alto Appassionato
To celebrate the release of their new album, Alto Appassionato, violist Timothy Ridout and pianist Jonathan Ware present a musical journey back to Paris at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Exploring this period from a viola’s point of view, the album features César Franck’s monumental Sonata, Léon Honnoré’s Morceau de concert, Henri Büsser’s Appassionato, George Enescu’s Concertstück and six songs by Gabriel Fauré, exploring a huge range of emotions and transcribed by Timothy Ridout himself. This recital will include pieces from the album interspersed with introductions given by Timothy and will reflect the French School in its widest sense: full of lyricism, sophistication and intensity.
What you need to know:
Doors open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks. The performance will start promptly at 6:30 pm. Food and wine will be available to purchase throughout the night.
Mensajes del agua: Lydia Rhea & Amber Scherer
Juilliard-trained cellist Lydia Rhea and pianist Amber Scherer bring their acclaimed duo program to Fidelio Cafe for an evening of music by female composers spanning a century of bold, boundary-crossing writing.
The programme takes its name from Andrea Casarrubios’ Mensajes del Agua — a meditative work the Spanish composer describes as an oasis, an invitation to find peace and quiet in sound. Alongside it sit two more Casarrubios pieces, the vibrant Silbo and Sonia, a tribute to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Chen Yi’s flirtatious Romance of Hsiao and Ch’in draws on Eastern musical idioms, while Nadia Boulanger’s delicate Trois Pièces and Rebecca Clarke’s sweeping Sonata for Viola and Piano — here performed on cello — round out an evening that moves from the ethereal to the ecstatic.
Lydia and Amber are known for their thoughtful programming and dedication to underrepresented voices. Their 2025–26 season includes debuts on the Dame Myra Hess series in Chicago and a residency at the Lunenburg Academy in Nova Scotia.
Lydia is running the London Marathon on April 26, raising money for Music in Hospitals & Care, and together with Amber has generously decided to donate a portion of their concert fees to the charity as well!
Programme:
Andrea Casarrubios: Silbo – Mensajes del Agua – Sonia
Chen Yi: Romance of Hsiao and Ch’in
Nadia Boulanger: Trois Pièces
Rebecca Clarke: Sonata for Viola and Piano
Lineup:
Lydia Rhea – Cello
Amber Scherer – Piano
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 6:30 pm. Food and drinks will be available to purchase on the night.
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
AWE Festival London 2026 | Courage, Sacrifice & Mateship
What you need to know:
Doors open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
The performance will start promptly at 6:30 pm.
Food and wine will be available to purchase throughout the night.
AWE London 2026
AWE launches its first spring mini-festival in London with a programme exploring the core values of the Anzac spirit, forged during the First World War by New Zealand and Australian soldiers. While there is no single definitive list, these values are often understood to include courage, sacrifice, service, comradeship or mateship, remembrance and endurance, alongside a deep sense of fairness and a natural aversion to class distinctions. Over time they have come to represent a powerful part of New Zealand and Australian identity, reflecting an approach to life and a distinctive character on the world stage.
Hosted in two iconic and intimate London venues, AWE traces a journey from the street scenes passing the window of Fidelio Cafe at ground level to the serene vistas from the top of St Pancras Clocktower, a Victorian landmark overlooking central London. Across these two performances we explore Anzac values through human experience rather than military narrative, focusing on music’s capacity to honour sacrifice, strengthen connection and hold space for remembrance.
Programme
Exploring the ANZAC values of courage, remembrance, sacrifice and mateship, Gideon Klein’s String Trio is a unique example of artistic resolve in the most challenging circumstances. Completed in the Terezín concentration camp just days before Klein’s deportation to Auschwitz, it launches our journey from ground level, music as witness and legacy.
Ross Harris’s Notes from the Front then sets the wartime letters of New Zealand soldier, musician and mathematician Alexander Aitken, honouring his personal voice as an act of remembrance, and bringing the human reality of service and sacrifice into sharp focus.
Dvořák’s vivid Piano Quartet No. 2 completes the programme. Written at a moment when international success was increasingly drawing him away from home, the work remains rooted in the Czech musical spirit that was becoming integral to Czech national identity, and in the chamber music ideal of four voices in conversation, interdependent, equal and moving forward together.
Gideon Klein String Trio - 13’
Ross Harris: Notes from the front (Songs for Corporal Aitken) - 15’
Dvorak: Piano Quartet No.2 in E-flat major, op.87
Yura Lee - violin/viola
Benjamin Baker - violin
Maciej Kulakowski - cello
Louis Schwizgebel - piano
(TBC) - tenor
AWE Festival London 2026 continues on Tuesday 21 April with Service, Remembrance and Endurance at St Pancras Clock Tower at 7pm. For more info visit AWE UK website
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
Django at the Cafe
What you need to know:
Doors open at 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
The performance will feature two jazz sessions, starting at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm respectively.
Food and wine will be available to purchase throughout the night.
ONE OF FIDELIO’S MOST POPULAR GIGS, ARGUABLY THE BEST WAY TO
SPEND A MONDAY EVENING IN LONDON!
Django Reinhardt was a groundbreaking and deeply influential jazz guitarist. Born in Belgium in 1910 and raised in France, Reinhardt was of Romani heritage and overcame a life-changing injury that left two fingers of his left hand severely damaged. Despite this, he developed a unique style of playing that combined a distinctive and virtuosic technique with the expressive melodies of Romani music and the swing rhythms of jazz. Reinhardt co-founded the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, popularising the genre known as gypsy jazz. His contributions to jazz guitar and innovative improvisations continue to inspire musicians around the world to this day.
Join us as we celebrate Django’s iconic artistry with an evening of hot swing in the cafe’s downstairs bar. Our talented musicians draw inspiration from traditional Django, modern manouche, and even classical greats, creating a special homage to one of jazz’s true legends.
Lineup:
Ray Rafols – Violin
Cornelius Corkery – Guitar
Sol Grimshaw – Guitar
Toby Yapp – Bass
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
Claude Bolling Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio
Sometimes it’s ok to keep a foot in every door! Claude Bolling’s Cello Suite is a cheerful work for Jazz Trio and Cello, bridging the often stumbled upon gap between classical performance tradition and the Jazz world. The piece follows in the traditions of the Third-Stream composition style, where fusion composers like Nikolai Kapustin and George Gershwin blend the sounds of Jazz into the classical canon.
Programme:
Improvisation
Claude Bolling, Suite for Cello & Jazz Piano Trio
I. Baroque in Rhythm II. Concertante. III. Galop IV. Ballade V. Romantique VI.Cello Fan
Lineup:
Jazz Trio: The William Bracken Trio
Cello: William Lui
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 6:30 pm. Food and wine will be available to purchase on the night.
Clara: Sex, Love and Classical Music
Clara brings to life the extraordinary story of Romantic era feminist icon and ground-breaking classical composer Clara Schumann. No, not Robert Schumann – Clara Schumann! Created and performed by Elena Mazzon, this intimate play explores Clara’s fascinating and complex life, delving into her career and relationships as she gets ready for a date with none other than the famous Johannes Brahms. Incorporating live music, Clara takes an unusual, eye-opening look into the past to reflect on questions of identity and challenges women still face today.
Credits:
Writer/Performer – Elena Mazzon
Director – Colin Watkeys
Dramaturg – Catriona Kerridge
Musical director – Stefania Passamonte
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 6:30 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 7:00 pm. Food and wine will be available to purchase on the night.
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
Chansons Noires
Together with pianist Alexander Bryson, Janine Hickl transports Fidelio to 1930’s Europe, weaving a rich musical journey through French and German classics made famous by Marlene Dietrich, Zarah Leander, Hildegard Knef, Edith Piaf and many more.
A Vienna-born actress, singer and dancer, Janine Hickl is known for infusing her performances with vivid storytelling and timeless charm. She has appeared at Fidelio Cafe before and is now a resident artist with us.
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 7:00 pm for signature cocktails, wine and a selection of small plates. Music will start promptly at 7:30 pm. Food will be available for purchase throughout the evening, but is not included in the ticket price.
After Hours
Whether you’re joining us for a glass of wine after work or settling in for a leisurely dinner, our after-hours café provides the perfect midweek escape with, of course, live jazz.
Simply walk in or book a table now to secure a spot – it’s free either way!
Django at the Cafe
What you need to know:
Doors open at 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
The performance will feature two jazz sessions, starting at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm respectively.
Food and wine will be available to purchase throughout the night.
ONE OF FIDELIO’S MOST POPULAR GIGS, ARGUABLY THE BEST WAY TO
SPEND A MONDAY EVENING IN LONDON!
Django Reinhardt was a groundbreaking and deeply influential jazz guitarist. Born in Belgium in 1910 and raised in France, Reinhardt was of Romani heritage and overcame a life-changing injury that left two fingers of his left hand severely damaged. Despite this, he developed a unique style of playing that combined a distinctive and virtuosic technique with the expressive melodies of Romani music and the swing rhythms of jazz. Reinhardt co-founded the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, popularising the genre known as gypsy jazz. His contributions to jazz guitar and innovative improvisations continue to inspire musicians around the world to this day.
Join us as we celebrate Django’s iconic artistry with an evening of hot swing in the cafe’s downstairs bar. Our talented musicians draw inspiration from traditional Django, modern manouche, and even classical greats, creating a special homage to one of jazz’s true legends.
Lineup:
Ray Rafols – Violin
Cornelius Corkery – Guitar
Sol Grimshaw – Guitar
Toby Yapp – Bass
Schumann and Brahms, Piano Quartets
Not the most common chamber music ensemble to come across in the standard programmes, but what gorgeous music it is! For this evening, four amazing soloists join forces to bring to you two jewels from the Romantic repertoire that will send shivers down your spine. A curious anecdote: Wagner and his wife attended the premiere of Brahms’ quartet in Vienna, in 1875. It is speculated that Brahms wanted to utter musically the name of her lifelong friend and unspoken love, Clara (Schumann), with the opening tune of this piece.
Programme:
Schumann, Piano Quartet Op. 47 in E-flat major
Brahms, Piano Quartet op. 60 in C minor
Lineup:
Martin Lewis-Jackson – Violin
Jenny Lewisohn – Viola
Ariana Kashefi – Cello
Petr Limonov – Piano
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for drinks and snacks, with the performance beginning promptly at 6:30 pm. Food and wine will be available to purchase on the night.
An evening with Jack Pepper
“Hailed as the next Andrew Lloyd Webber, at just 26 years old Jack Pepper has been nicknamed the ‘King’s Composer.’” The Mirror
Composer, broadcaster, and writer Jack Pepper is living a remarkably varied musical life. At sixteen, he composed for the Royal Opera House. At seventeen, he was writing for Classic FM. He went on to help launch Scala Radio, publish a children’s book, compose for VE Day commemorations, tours across the UK with his own musicals, and collaborate with the King’s Foundation on a royal commission.
Jack joins our new partner David Skudlik at Fidelio Cafe for an evening of conversation and performance — moving between his own songs and tunes by George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter and more.
Expect anecdotes from Windsor Castle, Oxford (he lasted a week), and a military flypast that had to be timed to the bar.
What you need to know:
Doors will open at 6.00, with signature cocktails & food served throughout the evening.
Dethroning Emperors
An event centred around the early romantic dream of tracing authority back to talent, rather than to privilege or violence.
Voyage among Fragments by Siqian Li
What you need to know:
Please note that the price includes a welcome drink and canapés.
Featured as a rising star in BBC Music Magazine, Chinese pianist Siqian Li brings a rare blend of elegance, dynamism, and emotional depth to the stage. Praised for her “huge emotional range and effortless pianistic control” (Paul Lewis CBE) and “graceful and touching” approach (Emanuel Ax), she has performed at leading venues and festivals across Europe, America, and Asia, captivating audiences with her distinctive artistic voice.
This concert is a deeply personal piano recital drawn from her debut solo album Voyage among Fragments. Shaped by French elegance, the expressive depth of her Chinese heritage, and the free spirit of American culture, the programme journeys through memory, identity, and the fleeting moments that quietly shape an artistic life. Through a selection of works from the album, Siqian invites listeners into a poetic music world—bridging cultures, balancing boldness with intimacy, and reminding us that beauty often lives in the delicate moments between what was and what is.
The programme will feature selected works from the album, including Korsantia’s transcription of Ravel’s La valse, Weissenberg’s sparkling arrangements of Charles Trenet’s songs, Cziffra’s reimagining of Vecsey’s Valse triste, Chu’s re-envisioning of the iconic Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for solo piano. Physical copies of Voyage among Fragments will be available for purchase after the concert, with the artist present to meet audiences and sign CDs.
Django at the Cafe
What you need to know:
Doors open at 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.
The performance will feature two jazz sessions, starting at 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm respectively.
Food and wine will be available to purchase throughout the night.
ONE OF FIDELIO’S MOST POPULAR GIGS, ARGUABLY THE BEST WAY TO
SPEND A MONDAY EVENING IN LONDON!
Django Reinhardt was a groundbreaking and deeply influential jazz guitarist. Born in Belgium in 1910 and raised in France, Reinhardt was of Romani heritage and overcame a life-changing injury that left two fingers of his left hand severely damaged. Despite this, he developed a unique style of playing that combined a distinctive and virtuosic technique with the expressive melodies of Romani music and the swing rhythms of jazz. Reinhardt co-founded the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, popularising the genre known as gypsy jazz. His contributions to jazz guitar and innovative improvisations continue to inspire musicians around the world to this day.
Join us as we celebrate Django’s iconic artistry with an evening of hot swing in the cafe’s downstairs bar. Our talented musicians draw inspiration from traditional Django, modern manouche, and even classical greats, creating a special homage to one of jazz’s true legends.
Lineup:
Ray Rafols – Violin
Cornelius Corkery – Guitar
Sol Grimshaw – Guitar
Toby Yapp – Bass