The concert was held at Muirhead Court, Salford one of several schemes run by housing association, Salix Homes, for older people in Salford.
It was timed to coincide with Opera North’s autumn productions at The Lowry in Salford Quays, giving more people the chance to access classical music while the Company was in the city.
David Greed, Principal Violinist with the Orchestra of Opera North, said: “By taking our instruments out of the pit and into the local community, we were keen to reach people who wouldn’t otherwise get to one of our performances. The atmosphere at Muirhead Court was truly brilliant and it was incredibly satisfying to see the enthusiasm with which the residents responded.”
David was joined by several other members of the Orchestra including clarinettist Colin Honour, violinist Katie New, violist David Aspin, and cellist Jessica Burroughs.
The performance attracted a large number of residents, who made the most of the crowds to raise money for a terminally ill boy, Leo, and his fight against a rare type of brain cancer called PNET.
Local resident, Ann Cosgrove, commented: “It was fantastic and brought out a lot of residents who can sometimes feel quite isolated. I wanted it to go on and on!”
Terence Carvell, Chair of Muirhead Court TARA adds; “Many of our residents don’t get much change from their daily routines and this event provided an opportunity for them to get out of their flats and enjoy a bit of social interaction. A really big heartfelt ‘THANK YOU’ to not just the musicians but to the whole Opera North team.”
Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes said: “It’s truly fantastic that an orchestra as renowned as Opera North were able to take the time out of their busy schedule to perform here at Muirhead Court. The residents who live here really enjoyed being able to listen to the music and to watch the musicians play and I’m sure they will remember it for a long time to come.”
When Opera North returns to The Lowry in the Spring, further initiatives for Salford’s older residents and community groups are planned, including a half-hour ‘Whistle Stop’ production of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love at Ordsall Hall.
