Lunchtime Parlour Concerts: Villainy

12.15-1.00pm

Experience classical music at its most intimate and intriguing. Launching this October, Parlour Concerts brings a new series of live performances to the historic 17th-century Parlour at Valence House Museum. Set against low autumn light and centuries of quiet history, this seasonal showcase offers Londoners an evocative lunchtime listening experience where music, heritage, and atmosphere collide.

Presented in partnership with Matilda Productions, the series provides a vital platform for exceptional emerging and early-career artists to perform in a room designed for true close-up connection.

The Inaugural Concert is a Celebration of Villainy as our debut performance embraces the subtle, mysterious edge of the season with a program dedicated entirely to rogueish charm, dark motives, and wicked drama featuring Oliver Jones (Piano) & Matilda Dawes (Soprano).

Expect to stumble upon Tom Lehrer's darkly hilarious, poisonous habits of victimizing pigeons in the park, Clara Schumann's Sirens with their haunting schemes luring unsuspecting sailors to a watery and ofcourse Operatic Mayhem: true tales of murder, masochism, and an unmissable Pig Opera style wedding to which you are cordially invited.

Biographies:

Matilda Dawes is a young Soprano and Choral Conductor. Since graduating with a first from Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2025, Matilda has founded the Verdier Trio for voice, flute and piano and Cantwara - a Harp and Voice duo who have performed at will be Guildhall's Britten Harp Festival. She has just completed her residency at The Space Theatre where she produced her own concert series Revolting Women - the words and music of women in Revolt! Alongside a busy performing and teaching career Matilda conducts Greenwich Carers Voices and works with London Youth Choir Cambiata Boys as their assistant leader.

This Summer she has assisted Sarah Latto at the Stour Music Festival in Kent. She has trained with Amy Bebbington at the Sherborne Choral Conducting Summer School, and was the conductor and vocal coach for Piggots young voices. Matilda studies under Yolanda Grant Thompson and Anna Boucher and will travel to Germany next year to study at the Academy of Early Music. When not in London she enjoys singing for concerts and festivals with community choirs around her home county of Kent and runs vocal technique workshops for amateur singing groups.

Expect brilliant musicianship, dramatic storytelling, and nothing short of a complete theatrical meltdown.

Our spaces are wheelchair accessible.

If you have specific SEND requirements or sensory concerns, please contact us at valencehousemuseum@lbbd.gov.uk so we can make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

We want everyone to enjoy our events. A designated Quiet Room is available nearby for anyone who needs a sensory break or a calm space during the event.

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