‘Not A Dry Eye In The House’: Care Home Resident’s Opera Wish Comes True At 89
An 89-year-old care home resident with a background in operatic and classical singing took the chance to perform live with an award-winning tenor 63 years younger than him.
Michael Griffiths, who lives at Colten Care’s Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, has sung his whole life in choirs and operatic societies.
He has played principal roles in all of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operas and sung in operas by Mozart and Puccini.
When performing with the London Philharmonic Choir and the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, he often took the bass solo role in oratorios.
Michael was excited to hear that one of Avon Cliff’s regular visiting performers, 26-year-old tenor Gregory Steward, was due to give a concert at the home.
South West-based Gregory has had a stellar career since graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2022.
Winner of the Taunton Young Singer Competition, he has performed with nationally acclaimed choirs such as Tenebrae, the Wellensian Consort, the Choir of St John’s Oxford and the BBC National Chorus of Wales.
Elise Martin, Avon Cliff Companionship Team leader, said: “Gregory’s performances are always very popular in our home, packing out the lounge with residents and visitors alike.
“When Michael heard Gregory would be coming once again, he spoke to me about a favourite piece of opera music, Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers Duet, and asked whether it would be possible to have Gregory sing it, and maybe even to sing it with him.
“Michael has always wanted the opportunity to perform this piece to an audience and was thrilled when Gregory agreed to perform with him.
“Gregory learned the piece specially for Michael and came to our home the night before for a rehearsal.
“On the day of the concert, the room was filled with palpable excitement and support for Michael, and you could hear a pin drop as the pair performed this mesmerising piece.
“At the end, the lounge erupted in applause and there certainly wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
After the performance, Michael said: “I felt privileged to sing with a tenor of such quality as Gregory, whose appearance here is always such a delight.”
Gregory said: “I haven’t previously had the opportunity of performing this famous aria, and it was a real pleasure to share the stage with someone whose enthusiasm for this piece matches my own.”
The Pearl Fishers Duet is from Bizet’s 1863 opera Les pêcheurs de perles, a tale of male friendship set in ancient times on the island of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.
