Music-lovers nationwide know the resonance and worth of making music: how it can unite and inspire communities, and give us hope through even the toughest times. That’s the message at the heart of a major new motion picture, marking the fourth cinematic writer-director collaboration between Alan Bennett and Nicholas Hytner, following the acclaimed films The Madness of King George, The History Boys, and The Lady in the Van.

In the midst of the First World War, the Yorkshire town of Ramsden has lost many of its men to the army. The community sets out to raise morale through its choral society, and ambitious plans to perform Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius. Ralph Fiennes plays the music director tasked with the challenge, leading a cast of familiar faces including Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong and Simon Russell Beale, alongside new stars set to shine. The story that follows is vintage Bennett – gleaming with wit, insight and warmth – matched by the tender, yearning tones of Elgar’s choral masterpiece. We witness a fractured society that discovers commonality, acceptance and strength through their collective embrace of music. Their tale is a rousing reminder how precious music yet remains, as our modern world tumbles towards fresh uncertainties.

Our friends at Sony Pictures are pleased to present an exclusive screening of this uplifting new film, in aid of the Royal Philharmonic Society. Presented at the exquisite private theatre of central London’s Ham Yard Hotel, the evening begins with a champagne reception and canapés, following by an onstage conversation with Alexander Armstrong (broadcaster, writer and singer), Nicholas Hytner (director of The Choral), and Hilary Campbell (music director of Bristol Choral Society, winners of the first RPS Inspiration Award that celebrates non-professional music-makers nationwide). They will talk about the film and its enduring message about the power of music in all our lives. Guests will then be among the first to see the film, ahead of its general release to the public. 

Watch the trailer for The Choral here online.

Tickets are £50 including champagne reception and canapés. RPS Members have exclusive priority booking from Wednesday 17 September on this webpage. To do this, they should log into Backstage, the dedicated members area of our website, linked here. General booking is from 10am on Tuesday 23 September on the page of our website you are currently viewing. To find out more about RPS Membership and how you can help us support the music you love, click here.

Owing to limited capacity, bookings are limited to two tickets per booker. Proceeds from this occasion go towards the Royal Philharmonic Society’s charitable ventures supporting music and musicians. The RPS is immensely grateful to Sony Pictures for their support and generosity in this. The event is expected to conclude by 10pm.