In 2023, guests at a Scottish hotel were treated to a surprising New Year's Eve performance from an unlikely celebrity duo. Dame Judi Dench and Texas singer Charlene Spit were seen attending a New Year's Eve celebration at the Fife Arms in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, shortly before the midnight countdown, The Guardian reports Sharleen Spiteri belted out Abba's "Waterloo." The impromptu performance was captured in a now-viral video of Academy Award-winner Spiteri muttering "What a pianist" while playing the hotel's piano.
Ewan Venters, chief executive of Artfarm, which owns the hotel, told BBC Scotland that the pair's rendition of the Abba classic was "a delight".
"It was a happy night with a lot of guests and locals clapping," Venters shared, revealing that the performance took place before the New Year's Eve fireworks show. "It was a classic Scottish New Year's Eve party in the Fife Arms. The hotel was sold out, there was a four-course dinner and ceilidh and it was a great atmosphere," he added.
Speaking to the Press Association, Winters also revealed that the pair had "met before, but after dinner they met in the hall and played the piano together." He continued: "The two legends - Scottish musician Sand Sharleen Spiteri and Dame Judi, who although born in York was an honorary Scot, notably played Queen Victoria on many occasions as Lady Brown returned to Royal Deeside. ”
Fans of both men were equally excited about Dench and Spiteri's rendition of the 1974 hit. "What a kick-off to 2023," one user said of the performance on Twitter, while another fan commented, "This video clip of Dame Judy and Charlene is priceless. The two of them The people themselves are legends.”
