Jan 12, 2021

A new reality: residents experience Opera like they never have before

Residents from Ryman Healthcare’s Nellie Melba Retirement Village have been treated to an operatic experience like no other during Australia’s first virtual reality (VR) opera trial.

With doors to theatres across Melbourne closed, and a cloud of uncertainty caused by COVID-19 still hanging over much of the industry, eight village residents, including Australian opera icon Nance Grant, and residents living with dementia, attended the exclusive trial.

Ryman Healthcare Operations Quality Manager Joanne Wang said the VR opera pilot developed by VR streaming platform ‘Inverse’ and the Melba Opera Trust, aimed to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of VR and opera for older people.

Image: The VR opera trial enjoyed by Nellie Melba village residents.
Image: The VR trial being enjoyed by Nellie Melba village residents.

“The village bears the name of Australia’s most famous opera icon, and there’s a mountain of research showing that music can have a hugely positive impact on people living with dementia, so this was a fantastic opportunity,” she said.

“Music can connect them to people and places in their past, stir emotions and memories, and just generally improve their wellbeing.”

Within minutes of residents donning their headsets for the recital, starring Melba Opera Trust alumni Stacey Alleaume, Nathan Lay, Michael Petruccelli and pianist Amir Farid starting, the profound benefits were obvious for all to see.

Residents living with dementia gently moved their bodies in time to the music, while a round of applause followed each rousing aria.

Image: The VR opera trial enjoyed by Nellie Melba village residents.
Image: The VR opera trial enjoyed by Nellie Melba village residents.

Exclamations of “this is fantastic” and laughter and humming gently broke the drama of Don Giovanni. But perhaps the greatest testament to the pilot’s success was the number of residents who watched it multiple times.

Image: The fully immersive Inverse VR technology transported residents, including Bob Barclay, to a night at the opera.
Image: The fully immersive Inverse VR technology transported residents, including Bob Barclay, to a night at the opera.

Some, so moved by the experience, became teary as they recalled memories of past operatic experiences.

Soprano star Nance Grant said the experience was “fantastic in every way”.

“People attending operas now are all getting into the older age group and somehow or other we’ve got to get younger people to be opera goers too,” she said.

“This was fantastic in every way and I think this technology would be the ideal thing for engaging younger audiences.”

Inverse founder Darren Vukasinovic said the trial could not have gone any better.

“The mental and emotional healing power of music is widely known, and live music has an even more profound impact on one’s feelings of health, happiness and wellbeing and that was clearly evident today,” he said.

Image: Nance Grant and her husband Ian Harris enjoy the exclusive show.
Image: Nance Grant and her husband Ian Harris enjoy the exclusive show.

Melba Opera Trust CEO Amy Black said the experience had been hugely beneficial not only for Nellie Melba village residents, but for the artists too.

“The artistry and sound were of course superb, and after the challenging year we have all endured, it was inspiring to feel as though we were once again in a room with a live performance,” she said.

Images supplied.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More than 100,000 older Australians still waiting for home care

New Government figures quietly released yesterday reveal more than 103,000 older Australians are still waiting for the home care package they have been approved for, says Shadow Minister for Ageing, Julie Collins MP. These shocking figures follow the Aged Care Royal Commission’s interim report which called the long waiting times older Australians faced for home... Read More

Royal commission has not endorsed ACAT privatisation, chair says

  The Chair of the Royal Commission into the Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Honourable Gaetano Pagone QC, has issued a statement on the government’s proposed privatisation of ACAT, providing clarification that the royal commission has not endorsed the government’s proposed privatisation of ACAT. “Public concern has been expressed about statements made by the Minister... Read More

Understanding the care needs of veterans and their carers

50,000 veterans receive aged care services in Australia. This Anzac Day, we consider their unique care needs – and for carers of veterans, a reminder to also take some time out to care for themselves: “Looking after yourself is really important so you can continue to look after them.” Read More
Advertisement