Security guard gives incredible opera performance to honour Queen Elizabeth II

Virgin Radio

12 Sep 2022, 08:56

A security guard and commuter at London Bridge station have paid an incredible tribute to the Queen with an impromptu opera performance.

Organist Anna Lapwood was on her way home on Sunday evening (11th September), and decided to sit down at the instrument in the station to pay tribute to the Queen, who passed away aged 96 at her Balmoral home on Thursday evening (8th September).

As she started to play, a security guard at the station joined her for an impromptu performance of the opera song Lascia Ch’io Pianga.

Posting a video to Twitter, Lapwood wrote: “This was so moving. Spontaneously stopped off at the London Bridge station organ to play a couple of pieces for the Queen.

"This lovely security guard, Marcella, asked if I could play Lascia ch'io pianga. Turns out she trained as a singer! And yes - she got the audience and applause she deserved by the end!! We ended up doing a whole load of duets and it was pure joy."

A fellow commuter, Rosie Brookes, also witnessed the performance and posted her own video on Twitter, writing: "How incredibly lovely to turn the corner of London Bridge station to discover @annalapwood and unknown soprano delighting everyone with a little Lascia ch'io pianga."

The performance impressed passers-by and others on Twitter, with the video generating over 2 million viewers and thousands of likes.

It comes as people from all over the world flock to London to visit Buckingham Palace and Green Park to pay their respects by laying flowers and lighting candles for the Queen, who was the longest-serving monarch in history.

The Queen will lie in state before a state funeral takes place at Westminster Abbey on 19th September.