Opera Studio Sings for Hospitalized Children in Hautepierre

By Veneranda Paladino — Source: DNA

As part of Septembre en Or, the national campaign raising awareness for pediatric cancer, singers from the Opéra Studio of the Opéra National du Rhin offered a brief, luminous concert at the Hautepierre Hospital in Strasbourg, creating a tangible moment of respite for children undergoing treatment.

The performance took place on the oncology ward’s eighth floor, where a modest stage area was enlivened by paper flower garlands, toys on shelves and a small fabric playhouse. At the heart of the mini-concert, baritone Eduard Frenczi Gurban brought both vocal warmth and theatrical charm to the room. Singing with playful energy—“Figaro, la la la, Figaro!”—he engaged directly with children such as Mila, Eva and Themis, using expressive gestures and light-hearted acting to connect with his young audience.

Pianist Anaëlle Reitan accompanied the singers from the opposite end of the communal room. The thirty-minute programme, presented by Jean-Sébastien Baraban of the Opéra National du Rhin, included accessible excerpts from Hansel and Gretel, La Bohème, The Barber of Seville and Die Fledermaus. Tenor Pierre Romainville and mezzo-soprano Inès Prevet contributed to the closing, comic Duo des choux from The Fantasticks, to the delight of children and relatives alike.

Moments of raw humanity punctuated the event: a toddler in a Mickey pyjama initially began to cry but was quickly soothed by the music; an IV line was discreetly renewed mid-performance; and singers made a point of carrying the music down corridors to isolated patients who could not attend in person. These small gestures—bringing the sound to individual rooms—underlined the charity’s central aim: to deliver art where it is most needed.

Medical staff and educators responded warmly. Dr. Sarah Jannier described the concert as “a magical interlude” that allowed children to look up from screens and share a cultural moment they seldom experience in hospital. Mathilde Lapp, educator and project lead, emphasized the value of this artistic respite: “It brings joy in a time outside medical care.”

For Eduard Frenczi Gurban, the Hautepierre visit showcased his ability to combine lyrical technique with theatrical immediacy. His performance demonstrated not only vocal control and stylistic clarity but also a rare capacity for human engagement—qualities that resonate strongly when singing for vulnerable audiences.

In sum, the Opéra Studio’s initiative at Hautepierre was more than a short concert: it was an act of solidarity and tenderness, where music briefly rebalanced the hospital routine with wonder and consolation.

Source: DNA