The King had suggested a few artists that he wanted to perform at his coronation concert but these two award-winning megastars have turned down His Majesty's invitation.
King Charles’s coronation concert will take place on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey, where coronations have taken place since 1066.
According to ClassicFM, Buckingham Palace has released details of the music arrangement for the occasion. Describing the musical program, the Palace said it blends 'tradition, heritage and ceremony with new musical voices of today, reflecting The King’s life-long love and support of music and the arts'.
The King himself commissioned twelve newly-commissioned pieces composed and performed by a diverse range of artists, which will feature alongside traditional works.
What music will feature at King Charles' coronation?
ClassicFM reports that the Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest by George Frederic Handel, which has been performed at every coronation since King George II's in 1727, will still be played. Revered musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been commissioned to create a new Coronation Anthem.
Meanwhile, there will be solo performances from bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, soprano Pretty Yende and baritone, Roderick Williams, with a special coronation orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. Fanfares will be played by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force.
Organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey, Andrew Nethsingha, will oversee all musical arrangements.
Despite rumors that the event could be more low-key than Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953, the Palace has announced a three-day weekend of events, including pageantry, musical performances, street parties, drone displays, and illuminations.
It is not yet announced what time the Coronation will start on May 6 or how long it will last. Previous coronations, including Queen Elizabeth’s, lasted for around three hours, according to Townandcountrymag.
British megastars decline the King's invitation
Both Adele and Ed Sheeran were invited to perform at King Charles' Coronation concert, but both artists have reportedly turned down His Majesty's offer due to conflicting schedules.
The King had suggested a number of people he would like to perform and that Adele and Ed were on that list, but they were unavailable.
According to Marca, Ed has a show in Texas the day before the coronation, making it impossible for him to make the nine-hour journey back home. The outlet says:
'There is a team set up to get the talent signed up but they were unavailable, which was a massive disappointment. They are titans of the showbiz industry and are quintessentially British but also known across the globe. It's such a shame.'
Meanwhile, it is unknown what Adele will be doing around the time of the coronation, even though her Las Vegas residency is set to end by March 25.
Adele and Ed Sheeran are two of the biggest names in modern British music. Adele rose to prominence in 2008 with her debut album, 19, which featured hit singles like Chasing Pavements and Make You Feel My Love. Her follow-up album, 21, released in 2011, includes the smash hits Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You, and Set Fire to the Rain. The album was a commercial and critical success, breaking records and winning multiple awards.
Ed Sheeran, on the other hand, gained popularity through self-released music on YouTube and SoundCloud. His debut album, +, released in 2011, included the hit singles The A Team, Lego House, and Drunk. Since then, he has released multiple successful albums and has become one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, with hit songs such as Thinking Out Loud, Shape of You, and Photograph.
King Charles is said to want Harry Styles to play the show while Lionel Richie is said to be close to agreeing, as are the Spice Girls.
Read more:
⋙ How King Charles III’s first stamp breaks with long-standing royal tradition
⋙ King Charles III: is Prince Harry welcome at the coronation?
