What if learning to breathe again, re-educating the lungs, could be done with a few vocalizations and soothing refrains like Has a clear fountain? What if the social contact created by an online group meeting as well as the enchantment of hearing an opera soloist push the note at the end of the workshop could lift your spirits a little?
That’s the bet they made. They are not the first. From the start of the pandemic, other opera houses around the world had the same intuition, notably theEnglish National Opera of London with its programBreathe“,”text”:”Breathe”}}”>Breathe.
So now here is the program To breathe
of the Opera de Montreal. The workshops started on March 15. I had the chance to visit the recording studio of the Opera, at Place des Arts, for the first session, broadcast to about forty participants.
“,”text”:”So, inhale… And let yourself go, aaaaaaah…”}}”>So, inhale… And let yourself go, aaaaaaah…
Mezzo-soprano Charlotte Gagnon has concocted a program of easy exercises, inspired by her daily practice and her relationship to breathing. On the wall in front of her, a large screen to see the participants, who follow the workshop from home. Some turned on their cameras, others didn’t.
Throughout the workshop, she reassures them. The objective is not to achieve a performance but to do good. Moreover, at the slightest dizziness or the smallest sign of discomfort, she recommends taking a break.
« When you think of an opera singer, you imagine a singer who pushes himself to the limit of his abilities and who is in great shape. But the way we approach it in the workshop, we really go back to the basics, which are accessible to everyone. »
Mezzo-soprano Charlotte Gagnon of the Opéra de Montréal leads the series of workshops.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Myriam Fimbry
—
Each 45-minute session consists of two parts: first, breathing and stretching exercises to land in the workshop and be relaxed
then vocal exercises and learning a song.
Singing is good. So, we start from this principle
says Pierre Vachon, director of social action and education at the Opéra de Montréal.
The music is also unifying. It will cause socialization. From a mental point of view, it’s absolutely extraordinary
adds the musicologist, who is in charge of finding projects for give back to the community
and to break this sometimes somewhat elitist image of opera singing.
Prevent discomfort
I see there are questions
, says Charlotte who, from the piano, observes the messaging system (the chat) out of the corner of her eye. Josée asks if it’s normal to feel her heart rate increase. Manon points out that it’s breathless and that she always wants to yawn. Carole feels a vice in her throat. Yves can’t keep the note until the end.
IRCM physician and infectious disease specialist Emilia Liana Falcone is also online. She observes faces and reactions. The instruction she gives: you must respect your limits at all times and take breaks if necessary.
« It is a program that is both artistic, which respects the training of singers, and medical, which respects the imperatives linked to the post-COVID-19 syndrome and the various pathologies. »
Pierre Vachon, director of social action and education at the Opéra de Montréal
Photo: Radio-Canada / Myriam Fimbry
—
The program To breathe
will not be studied for the moment. But Dr. Falcone’s patients, followed at the IRCM’s post-COVID-19 research clinic, will be asked about their experience during their appointments.
Mélanie Lacasse, a resident of Gatineau, followed the workshop on the train that was taking her to Montreal for her appointment at the IRCM the next day.
At times, I saw that my breath was not enough to continue the vocalization
she said to the nurse.sessions, we’ll see if I feel better afterwards.”,”text”:”It’s still 12 sessions, we’ll see if I feel better afterwards.”}}”>It’s still 12 sessions, we’ll see if I feel better afterwards.
Mélanie Lacasse, who has suffered from post-COVID-19 syndrome for a year, hopes that the opera workshops will do her good.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Myriam Fimbry
—
This 44-year-old mother, who is a doctor, has lived for a year with post-COVID-19 syndrome, commonly known as COVID long
. Singing has never been her forte, but she wants to put the odds on her side.
The workshops are therefore added to the list of her approaches to healing, in addition to follow-ups with various specialists: cardiologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and psychologist.
Respiratory symptoms are among the most common in long-term COVID-19, says Dr. Falcone. The patient has shortness of breath or the feeling that he is not taking a good breath. He is not able to really aerate his lungs.
This requires pulmonary rehabilitation through physiotherapy sessions. But most of the 9,000 patients counted in Quebec do not have access to it, for lack of available services or lack of money.
In this context, the Opéra de Montréal’s workshops, which are free, are more than welcome, even if they will not be enough to meet the immense and growing needs.
« I find the idea great. It is an alternative, complementary intervention, associated with art and singing. It is hoped that patients will see an improvement in their well-being. »
Emilia Liana Falcone, infectious disease specialist and director of the post-COVID-19-IRCM clinic
Photo: Radio-Canada / Myriam Fimbry
—
This contact with art and with singing could have a positive effect not only on breathing but also on the anxiety, stress, insomnia and depression that plague some patients.
We can’t go to the concert anymore. We cannot go on cultural outings. It feels good to hear from you!
exclaims a participant after Charlotte Gagnon willingly agreed to sing for a few seconds with her operatic voice. Your voice does as much good as the exercises we do
says Violaine Cousineau.
Suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome for 18 months, she sometimes feels hopeless. We currently have access to very few services, it’s a lifeline, something like what the Opéra de Montréal offers us!
The Opéra de Montréal intends to fine-tune its workshops and will launch a second session next fall. He is also looking for a way to make them accessible to everyone, on the Internet, in the form of capsules. It’s in the game plan
says Pierre Vachon. We prepared a lot of material, yoga exercises, songs, etc. We said to ourselves that it had to serve the general public. It should serve everyone.
–
