Opera 91大黄鸭鈥檚 artists are using their talents to bring smiles to the city鈥檚 seniors in a series of performances titled Sidewalk Serenades.
The chair of the board of directors for Opera 91大黄鸭, Allan Neilson, said they knew there are many residents who don鈥檛 do well with being cooped up inside.
鈥淭his initiative is really an opportunity for us to find out what we can do for our community during this time because there are a lot of people in the community who don鈥檛 do very well in a shutdown situation like this,鈥� he said.
鈥淚n particular, one of the groups that are vulnerable to isolation and the mental health issues that come with it are our seniors. So we decided to find a way to bring them some joy.鈥�
Neilson added they know long-term care facilities are hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks across the country, so they鈥檝e been extra careful with their performances.
Opera 91大黄鸭 put on the first performance for Sidewalk Serenades on April 24. They put on a second performance at Glenmore Lodge on April 29. Neilson said the singers each prepare their favourite songs and perform those, instead of having a prescribed setlist. He also said each performance has a different number of singers each time, depending on the songs and the location.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not great right now, especially in these conditions under which we鈥檙e living, but this is something to hopefully help them feel better and brighten their day and let them know that despite all that鈥檚 going on right now, there鈥檚 still this intrinsically beautiful art-form called opera,鈥� Neilson said.
He added that the Sidewalk Serenades is a great platform for their artists to keep performing.
鈥淎s you know, all across the country and various performing arts groups, there鈥檚 a lot of anxiety right now on the part of singers and performers who just can鈥檛 do what they were born to do, as well as the financial implications of not being able to perform but (Sidewalk Serenades) gives them a way to still do what they do best.鈥�
Neilson said the group鈥檚 main priority is to sing to residents at seniors鈥� care facilities but other residents can also request a serenade in their neighbourhood, provided Opera 91大黄鸭鈥檚 singers are available to do it.
He said the pandemic has been devastating not just for Opera 91大黄鸭, but for many other performing arts groups throughout the country.
鈥淲e had a very exciting 2020 season that was supposed to kick off in May and go through the summer, but we鈥檝e had to postpone it for the next season. We鈥檝e also had to put on hold our training program for emerging artists,鈥� Neilson said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been difficult鈥� besides having to cancel the bulk of our season, our sponsorships and grants have also dried up. Everybody is going through a downturn in terms of what they can support these days. These are difficult times and we need the community now more than ever, but in the meantime, we really wanted to make the best out of the situation and give back to the community.鈥�
For more information on Sidewalk Serenades and to suggest a residence for a serenade, visit .
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