Opera star sings for hotel guests’ supper

Sep 13 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

OPERA singer Irakli Grigali performed a number of arias to launch a new-look Liverpool restaurant last night.

Filini, at the Radisson SAS hotel in Old Hall Street, has just undergone a £250,000 refit to create a spacious, modern and relaxing atmosphere.

The makeover by R2 Architecture uses a combination of red vintage leather seating, large draping red velvet curtains, and chandeliers.

To add extra effect, rustic Italian fretwork has been used on the large windows overlooking the River Mersey.

Liverpool design studio Burn created the illustrated wallpaper, along with the panelling and fretwork. All the designs were influenced by different aspects of Italian culture.

The hotel’s general manager, Geir Tonnessen, said: “Radisson SAS has a great reputation around the city, boasting a contemporary look and feel, and now Filini with its new look certainly complements the hotel perfectly. We have an excellent team of chefs at Filini and they will continue to produce excellent food with authentic Italian ingredients.”

Tenor Irakli Grigali is performing at the Liverpool Empire from November 22 to 24 when Ellen Kent Productions stage Verdi’s Nabucco and Bizet’s Carmen.