When Jane Ede's voice echoed throughout Alan Walker Village's gardens in Carlingford, it lifted the not just the spirits of residents, but the opera star herself.
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The Opera Australia principal soprano helped break the monotony of Covid-forced isolation with performances of classic arias, including Musetta's Waltz from La Boheme.
"When we were approached to sing for the residents here, I couldn't believe we hadn't thought of it before," said Jane.
"We're all these performers sitting around missing performing, and particularly with the restrictions, we also have a lot of people who might be feeling a bit isolated. So this brilliant idea brought us both together."
Residents of the Wesley Mission retirement village looked on from balconies and gathered in one of the courtyards for the concert.
"The performance for me raised my spirits and reinforced the benefits of music," said resident Gordon.
Wesley Mission's chief executive, the Reverend Keith Garner, thanked Opera Australia, acknowledging the positive impact of the performance.
"Music has a way of lifting the spirit which is so important in these challenging times," he said.
"One of the silver linings in this crisis is that it has brought people together in ways that would never have happened before."
Wesley Mission also has communities in Sylvania and Narrabeen: 1800-931-107, wesleyretirementvillages.org.au
