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Opera North Brings Live Performance to Sovereign Lodge Living Room.
March 5, 2010
Stars of Opera North took our breath away with a one off special performance at Sovereign Lodge Care Home in Newcastle yesterday.
Opera North Singers Paul Gibson and Rachel Mosley serenaded residents in a one off performance yesterday at Sovereign Lodge Care Home which left us all amazed. More than 60 people turned up to see the show including residents from Hillcrest Care Home in Jarrow, Pembroke Lodge, Sovereign Court and Briardene Care Home all in Newcastle.
Dressed in smart evening wear, Paul Gibson along with Opera North's Head of Music Martin Pickard on piano opened the show with an outstanding performance of 'Figaro'. Duo Paul and Rachel went to perform some favourite opera classics from shows including Carmen, The Barber of Seville and The Merry Widow.
Opera North is currently performing Puccini's La Boheme at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle and took the time out to take part in this mini-performance especially for our residents.
The performance was followed by tea and cakes and gave the residents some time to chat to the performers.
Singer Paul Gibson said, "It was a treat to perform to such an appreciative audience. I think some of the residents knew the words better than me!"
Another star of the show, resident Isabelle Ross 88 added that extra touch of magic by singing along enthusiastically. Isabelle, like all of us enjoyed the performance and she even had a special serenade by singer Paul Gibson (see photo).
The show was funded by Opera North partner, Yorkshire Bank who has done 2 other performances in similar settings hoping to make the opera more accessible to everyone.
The mini-performance at Sovereign Lodge gave a lot of people the chance to experience live opera when ordinarily they would not have been able to visit the theatre.
Home Manager Ray Robson said, "The residents had been very excited to see the show. It's not every day classical singers perform in their living room so it's been the talk of the home for the past couple of weeks!"
