French opera singer innovates around COVID-restrictions, takes craft to peoples homes

After France ordered a closure to all its cultural venues in
fear of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in October, 2020, Fiona McGown,
a French-Scottish mezzo-soprano singer, decided to open herself up to performing
in people’s houses, reported AFP.

McGown, 32, while improvising with the changing times,
seemingly makes sure of a COVID-19 appropriate setting: PCR tests a day before,
one room having a maximum of six persons, as well as the audience being either
masked or vaccinated.

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“It’s moving to hear such singing in your own home…
and we hear it better than at a concert”, AFP quoted Jacques, a former banker
and one of McGown’s audiences, as saying.

“It’s like the recitals of the 19th century.

In a concert hall, we are blinded by the lights, we don’t
see the faces. Here I can see you, feel you”, the singer, on the other hand,
was quoted as saying.

Reportedly used to performing four times a month on stage since
she was 12, the situation understandably changed for the artist, who, by her
own admission, decided that it was time for a shift.

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“With my diary empty, I told myself that either I sit
on the sofa, or I go find an audience in their own homes.

At the start, it was very much word-of-mouth. Now, I’ve
started getting requests by email and social media”, McGowan said.

With France due to open up its cultural centres on May 19,
the soprano reportedly added that she wishes to continue with both festivals
and private audiences in the future.