Geoff Sewell’s Guerilla Opera Singers Hit Exclusive Parties

Former Amici Forever tenor New Zealander Geoff Sewell and his wife Simone Lanham run London-based Incognito Artists, a group of performers who specialise in “guerrilla opera” – available for hire as “chefs,” “waiters” and “guests” at corporate events, private parties, weddings, barmitzvahs and stadium events.

Imagine this. You’re at an intimate party for Sir Richard Branson’s family.

The food is fabulous, the wine is flowing and there is even a future king among the birthday guests getting merry, when suddenly it all kicks off.

The chef comes out from the kitchen and starts picking a fight with the master of ceremonies.

Now they are singing at each other, with astonishingly powerful voices and there’s a barman on the bar, belting out an aria.

“Prince William was [at Sir Richard Branson’s party] as a mate of Holly Branson,” Sewell says, remembering one of the many nights on which his work has brought him up close and personal with Royals, superstars and billionaires.

Incognito Artists, which was founded in 2000, has also performed on board yachts, in desert palaces and at a frozen party in Siberia.

“We were invited to Clarence House [in 2014],” Sewell says.

“Prince Charles said he loved our music and said, ‘Did you know I played the pirate in The Pirates Of Penzance?’ Then he started singing – ‘ta ran ta ra’ – and we were dueting.”

Operatic pop group Amici Forever’s first album, The Opera Band (2004), reached number one on the Australian classical charts, number two on the United States classical charts and the top 5 in the United Kingdom classical charts.

Original article by Cole Moreton, Daily Mail, February 28, 2015.

Photo by Alpha Press.