In the coming months, Opera North continues its commitment to inspire creativity and boost wellbeing through music and performance with the launch of a suite of activities designed to benefit both body and mind.
The award-winning online singing course, From Couch to Chorus, returns on 15 March with a special pay-as-you-feel spring edition, giving people across the country the opportunity to sing their way into the new season while mastering some operatic repertoire in a fun, accessible way. From Couch to Chorus: Sing into Spring is open to everyone from complete beginners to regular choir-goers, regardless of whether they are able to read music or know their voice type. Over the course of three evenings under the guidance of expert vocal leaders Marie Claire Breen and Matthew Roughley, participants will get the chance to tackle such rousing operatic classics as Verdi’s ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Matadors’ choruses from La traviata, the ‘Anvil Chorus’ from Il trovatore and the celebratory ‘Chorus of Wedding Guests’ from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. The sessions will be held over Zoom to allow people to access them from the comfort of their own homes.
The course culminates with a livestreamed finale event on Wednesday 12 April when the participants will get a chance to sing everything they have mastered live with the Chorus of Opera North. There will be an option to attend in person at Opera North’s home in Leeds and to take part in a side-by-side rehearsal with the Chorus beforehand.
For anyone looking to take a few minutes out of their day to focus on wellbeing, a new series of Reconnect videos has been launched on the Opera North website. Available free on demand, the short videos are presented by soprano Marie Claire Breen who invites people to reconnect with their body, breath and voice in a moment of calm. The series was inspired by the company’s Step into Singing initiative which was held last year to encourage people living with chronic pain to use singing and vocal techniques as a tool to release anxiety.
In person events are being offered during Opera North’s upcoming Wellbeing Weekend in the Howard Assembly Room. On Friday 10 March, Restorative Yoga provides an opportunity to learn some deeply relaxing yoga poses under the guidance of teacher Gerry Turvey to the accompaniment of live music. The following day, opera singer Amy J Payne will lead a one hour session on Singing for Wellbeing, suitable for all ages and abilities. To complete the weekend, Transformation, a relaxed concert on Sunday 12 March, will feature music and songs about renewal in a friendly, informal setting. Performed by Annette Saunders on piano, Luke O’Toole on flute and soprano Bibi Heal, the performance is particularly suited to people with learning disabilities or autism, people living with dementia and anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment.
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