Carmina Burana, London, January

The O2 arena will play host to a performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra next year.

Joined by the Brighton Festival Chorus and Youth Choir, Visit London reports that the world-renowned orchestra will perform Carmina Burana.

It is due to take place on January 17th 2009 and will commence at 6:30pm.

Carmina Burana is a 13th century manuscript containing 228 poems telling stories of life.

Actors and dancers will re-enact the work, which was put together by Carl Orff in the 1930s.

He set 24 of the poems to music, while maintaining his belief in the importance of speech, movement and music.

Next month AfroLata - a youth group from Rio de Janeiro - will make an appearance in the East End of London after coming to the UK as part of the AfroReggae UK partnership.

The musicians play everything from drums to tins and will be performing in Mallon Gardens at Toynbee Studios between 2:30 and 3pm on September 27th.

Music fans can stay at Guoman Hotels, which with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.

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Scandinavians in the Square, London, October

Die-hard fans of Scandinavian stand up comedy will be heading to London in their droves next month.

Between October 5th and 8th, Smorgasbord: Scandinavians in the Square will take place at the Leicester Square Theatre showcasing the talents of a quintet of comedians.

VisitLondon says: "Stand-up comedy might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Scandinavia.

"[However], five comedians presenting a smorgasbord of Scandinavian comedy in London hope to change that."

During the four-night run, comedians hailing from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland will each amuse audiences with their unique brand of humour.

The comedians in question, who are already big stars at home, are Mette Lisby, Daniel Simonsen, Snorri Kristjansson, Henrik Elmer and Ismo Leikola.

Later this year at the Leicester Square Theatre, Joan Rivers will bring her "very personal" new show entitled A Work Progress by a Life in Progress to London.

The show will run between December 2nd and January 29th.

Comedy fans can stay at Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Tower and The Royal Horseguards which with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.

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A Night at the Opera, London, November 23rd

Opera fans may be interested to know that an event is scheduled to take place in London in the coming weeks.

A Night at the Opera will take place on November 23rd at 19:30.

Featuring former G4 singer Jonathan Ansell, the event is set to wow opera fanatics when it takes to the stage of the London Palladium.

Tickets are priced between £17.50 and £35, prior to a booking fee.

An orchestra and singers will provide the evening's entertainment, which will include Aida, the Barber of Seville, La Boheme, Carmen, Cosi Fan Tutte and Don Giovanni.

Classics performed in the show are the Marriage of Figaro, the Magic Flute, Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto Tosca and La Traviata.

On a more permanent basis, the Sound of Music is showing at the London Palladium.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber production of the show has proved a hit with theatre-goers, with film and TV star Simon MacCorkindale performing as Captain Von Trapp.

Opera fans can stay at Charing Cross, which with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.


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A Gift to the Nation at the National Gallery, London until October 29th

The National Gallery has amassed its largest ever single bequest for the first time since 1938, which is free for all to see at Trafalgar Square until October 29th.

Industrial chemist Ludwig Mond donated 40 Italian Renaissance masterpieces to the National, constituting a significant slice of the permanent collection, but it has not been seen together for 68 years.

The highlight of this exhibition is eight key paintings, including a crucifixion by Raphael and the Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius by Botticelli.

If you follow the exhibition into the lower galleries of the permanent collection, there are 26 more together in all their glory. Inquisitive minds will no doubt want to pursue the remaining six, found scattered in their relevant chronological or thematic niche.

The impressive collection features a soft-focus Virgin and Child by Titian and the serene Holy Family with Saint John by Mantegna, which clearly reflect their former owner's taste.

This compelling selection of canonical art, up to and over half a millennium old is free to see at the National Gallery in central London.

Culture vultures can stay at one of the Guoman Hotels, made simple with online price check and booking facilities.

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