Opera at Barts
In summer 2023, Soprano Caroline Kennedy undertook a programme of personalised Operatic performances for patients and staff at Barts Hospital.
Kennedy spoke with patients and visitors in various waiting areas, discussing their current mood and how they might like to feel, with the aid of musical intervention. Kennedy would then respond to their preferences with an Aria, either a direct request or something that suits their mood.
The programme supported patient wellbeing by providing uplifting, positive distraction. Music programming within the clinical environment has been proven to positively affect the patient experience by reducing perceptions of pain and decreasing stress and anxiety. Research has also indicated that musical performances can contribute to strengthened relationships between staff and patients. In addition to these intended health benefits, this programming supported patient wellbeing by providing a welcome change from the norm.
Many of the patients using these services will be making repeat visits to the hospital and these trips can often feel isolating. These performances provided a break from the monotony of a hospital visit, enabling a shared cultural experience between hospital users and reducing feelings of isolation. This project also provides the opportunity to bring musical performances to oft-neglected patient groups. Currently, a great deal of musical programming is directed towards Older Adults and Children, leaving a large section of the patient population (18-65) under served.
Caroline Kennedy
Kennedy was awarded a BA Hons. in French and Drama from The University of Kent and in July 2011, she graduated from The RSAMD’s Alexander Gibson Opera School. She has sung main roles and covered with ENO, Scottish Opera, Mid Wales Opera, Nevill Holt Opera, Grange Park Opera, Opera Holland Park, Buxton Opera and Bampton Classical Opera.
Most notable roles in the last couple of years have been Despina Cosi fan tutte ( Kings Head Theatre) Nannetta Falstaff ( Fulham Opera) and Musetta La Boheme (Kings Head Theatre).
In 2018 she sang the role of Tonina in Salieri’s First the words, then the Music, Frasquita Carmen ( Dartmoor Prison Project) and won critical acclaim as Fireball and Alexis in The Tales of Offenbach (Opera della Luna). She has been involved in a number of projects with Tete a Tete and in April went on tour with “i” (Waste Paper Opera) to Glasgow international 2018 where she played The Queen.
Caroline is also involved in a great deal of community opera, from premiering the role of Veronica Miracle (An Opera for Sunderland) to introducing children to opera in schools with English Pocket Opera and singing for people suffering from dementia with Lost Chord.
“I don’t see live music anymore as my husband is housebound. I’ve never been sung to before and the experience has made me feel very lucky and emotional. Barts is like a haven in the City of London’”
This project has been awarded as part of the Imagine Fund which is a participatory grant making scheme supported by the Barbican Centre and City of London Corporation. Find out more at barbican.org.uk/take-part/communities-neighbourhoods
