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Best music for children: London concerts and opera

By Claudia Pritchard on 7/1/2020

It's never too early to get into music, and it comes naturally to kids. Here are the best events for musical adventures they'll never forget

Opera Dots, Royal Opera House

Booking opens 29 Jan for highly popular workshops for tinies, from 3 months to age 5. Each workshop encourages children to take part, with song, instruments and stories – the basis of opera, in short. Toddlers, make your Covent Garden debut!

WHEN

2, 16 March; 20 April; 4, 11 May at times throughout the day

WHERE

Royal Opera House
Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Peace at Last, OperaUpClose

Mr Bear was tired, Mrs Bear was tired and Baby Bear was tired, so they all went to bed... But Mr Bear's attempts to sleep take him on nocturnal adventures that only end with a nice cup of tea. Jill Murphy's enchanting story is brought to life for 3- to 5-year-olds by three singers and a small band.

WHEN

Tues 7 & Thurs 9 April 2020, 10:15AM & 11.30AM

WHERE

Coliseum, St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES

Peppa Pig – My First Concert

Live on stage, everyone's favouite little pig discovers pizzicato, percussion and much more music besides with the brilliant young Southbank Sinfonia and some of her other friends. Daddy PIg has a go at conducting, and everyone can dance and sing along. Suitable for children aged 5 and under.

WHEN

Tues 14 & Wed 15 April; Sat 30 & Sun 31 May; 12 performances, times vary

WHERE

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX

A Christmas Carol, English National Opera

Dickens's evergreen story of Ebenezer Scrooge's Christmas enlightenment is set to music in a semi-staged production for all the family. Created by big West End and Broadway name, after 10 years in New York there are the first London performances.

WHEN

Tues 1 Dec to Sun 6 Dec 2020. Nine performances, times vary

WHERE

Coliseum, St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES

The City of London Soloists will give immersive concerts at unexpected venues

City of London Soloists, Conway Hall

Breaking down the barrier between player and audience, meet a new orchestra that stands to play, talks about the pieces, and puts the audience all around the music. Haydn, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky in a youthful, immersive atmosphere.

WHEN

On 22 Feb 2020, concert, plus chance to meet the artists afterwards

WHERE

Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

Chopin and the Dragonfly, Aurora Orchestra

Dancing dragonflies and a sleepy tortoise encounter streams, chicks and springtime's rising sun when London's most switched-on orchestra, Aurora (pictured) knits the giddying waltzes of composer Chopin with wonder at the natural world. For children aged 0–5 and their families.

WHEN

15, 16, 22, 23 Feb (plus, at Southbank Centre, 20, 22 Feb) Times vary

WHERE

Kings Place
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG

Best music for children: London concerts and opera

It's never too early to get into music, and it comes naturally to kids. Here are the best events for musical adventures they'll never forget

Opera Dots, Royal Opera House

Peace at Last, OperaUpClose

Peppa Pig – My First Concert

A Christmas Carol, English National Opera

City of London Soloists, Conway Hall

Chopin and the Dragonfly, Aurora Orchestra

Royal Opera House

Children

Kings Place

Southbank Centre

The best kids' events and trends in London 2020

Love Classical 2020, Royal Albert Hall

February half-term: London 2023