Soprano Sings in Wheelchair

Posted by Sarah Canice Funke May 24, 2007

The Scottish Opera is currently performing Lucia di Lammermoor in Glasgow. Considering the performance venue, the opera is fittingly based on Scottish author Sir Walter Scott's novel The Bride of Lammermoor. Though the novel is in English, Italian composer Donizetti wrote the opera in Italian.

Sally Silver, performing the title role, injured her calf muscle during the matinee show on Tuesday, May 22. Despite being unable to stand, the South African soprano insisted on carrying on with the show. She managed to finish the remaining two acts in a wheelchair. General director Alex Reedijk borrowed the wheelchair from one of Scottish Opera's regular supporters. For the evening's performance, the opera company called upon Glasgow soprano Christina Dunwoodie to fill in for the title role.

Though singing with a painful injury is a bit unusual, singing from a wheelchair is no abnormal feat for an opera singer. A typical performance might call upon the soprano to sing full throttle while lying on her side, in the throes of a pantomimed death. But now Sally Silver can add "wheelchair performances" to her resume.

The company hopes that she will recover before the opera goes on tour to other major Scottish cities, including Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

For further information, please read the BBC story.