I think I found the perfect date night idea in the run-up to the festive season in London. If you’re a massive Disney fan, Fever’s Candlelight: Disney Love Songs, taking place at the beautiful Southwark Cathedral, is an incredible option to jazz up a dreary weeknight and get you in the mood for Christmas – or even for Valentine’s Day, far off as it might seem. The experience – which also takes place in Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast and Cambridge – chooses a stunning venue in each city and sees a string quartet reimagine some of the most famous Disney love songs of all time.
Expect to hear tracks like Can You Feel the Love Tonight, A Whole New World and Dos Oruguitas performed live. The cathedral, meanwhile, will be entirely lit by candles, perfect for that cosy autumnal feel while you relax into the music.
The programme is incredibly well-thought-out, and it isn’t all about romantic love. Themes of family love and friendship are just as important, so whether you’re taking a partner, parents or friends, expect to get caught up in your emotions.
Tucked close to the bustling food scene at Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral truly is a hidden gem in London Bridge. The candlelight setup inside just makes the ambience even more incredible.
Of course, the concert could do with a few tweaks. No photography or videography is allowed until the very last song, Married Life from the Pixar film Up.
Rather than providing the typical upbeat encore song a la a West End play, the slow song was maybe the wrong choice to allow people to share on social media; rather than boosting the mood as a more iconic Disney track would have, the melancholy theme probably would have served better earlier on in the night.
The quartet players are incredibly talented, and the harmonies were gorgeous. I do think, however, the setlist needed a lighter, faster-paced piece to get the energy up and break up the pace mid-concert.
My Candlelight experience definitely ignited a flame of my own, and I’d definitely return to see another programme or a new setlist.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options to choose from, including a Michael Jackson tribute, Christmas classics, ABBA vs. Queen and the Best of Hans Zimmer.
Tickets are available from Fever’s website.
