Join baritone Steve Whitford and pianist George Ireland in the Library for an evening of song, opera and spoken word at Kelmscott House.

Opera Prelude has collaborated with The William Morris Society to create the Kelmscott Series; three intimate concerts inspired by Morris’s love of beauty, nature, craftsmanship, and human connection. Blending English song, opera, and spoken word, and performed by outstanding professional artists, these programmes celebrate the power of the human voice in a setting that feels personal and shared. In the spirit of Morris’s belief in art for all, we want opera to feel open, welcoming, and something everyone can enjoy. 

Concert III – The House of Life: Love, Beauty, and the Soul of William Morris
Centred on love in its many forms—romantic, spiritual, and artistic—this programme traces Morris’s ideals through song settings inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites and their circle. Music by Vaughan Williams, Ireland, Clarke, and others reflects a search for ideal beauty, emotional truth, and a life shaped by art and human connection.

6pm Arrival, welcome drink and chance to look around the exhibition (Glass of fizz or soft drink included in the ticket price)

6.30pm-7.25pm First half of performance

Short interval

7.30pm-8pm Second Half of performance

8.30pm Close