At nap time, silence gave way to opera tunes in the Françoise-Gauffier nursing home.
Two musicians from the National Orchestra of Montpellier offered a concert to the residents.
“Music is a very special medium, which stimulates memory in residents, confides the director of the Ehpad Françoise-Gauffier.
And not just cognitive memory, but emotional memory as well.
It does them crazy good.
»
“Music softens morals, rejoices Paulette, a 97-year-old resident of the retirement home.
It relieves, we think of something else.
»
At nap time, the air of
Carmen
breaks the silence, at the Françoise-Gauffier nursing home, in Montpellier (Hérault).
In the hall of the retirement home, residents have recognized
Love is a rebellious bird
from the first notes, and are beating time on their armchairs.
Some even hum a few words from the famous opera.
“So, did you recognize?
“says Héloïse Dautry, on the harp.
“
Carmen
!
“, releases in chorus the public.
This musician from the National Orchestra of Montpellier played, with Isabelle Mennessier, on the transverse flute, in front of the grannies and grandpas of the nursing home in the Ovalie district.
Both are delighted to “bring life” to this residence, to these elderly people dressed up for the occasion.
“Gradually, we see their eyes light up, little movements… It's heart-warming!
smiles the flautist.
Regularly, duos or trios of the prestigious formation make a little infidelity at the Opera, to play a few tunes for the residents.
“It relieves, we think of something else”
" It was wonderful !
“says Christian, 76, who was in the front row, in his wheelchair.
“I saw Johnny and Michel Polnareff in Paris, but classical music, it's the first time.
It is heartwarming.
Paulette is over the moon, too.
This concert revived memories in her of when she went to see operettas with her husband.
“Music softens morals, rejoices this 97-year-old lady.
It relieves, we think of something else.
By his side, his daughter, Christine, who came to visit him, sees these suspended moments as a "real plus".
"It helps to calm the elderly," she says.
Most are not used to listening to classical music.
»
For the director of this retirement home managed by the municipality, the contribution of these few notes is immense, for the residents.
“It wakes up a lot of things, among the residents, explains Jean-Marie Sillou.
Music is a very special medium, which stimulates memory in them.
And not just cognitive memory, but emotional memory as well.
It does them crazy good.
After going through such a difficult period [the Covid-19 crisis], they deserve this happiness.
»
“An elderly person got up and started dancing”
And sometimes, even, the music gave rise to astonishing, almost cinematographic scenes, in nursing homes.
Michel Calvo (PS), deputy mayor and vice-president of the Communal Center for Social Action (CCAS), remembers a waltz, during which "an elderly person got up and started dancing, and the violinist started dancing too.
It's awesome, there's no other word for it.
»
Or this boarder, moved to tears, in front of an opera aria.
“It was the first time she heard an opera singer, she was crying, it was so beautiful, remembers Françoise Bretton, deputy director general of public policy at the CCAS.
She said to herself that she would never have thought that opera was for her.
Everyone, regardless of age, should have access to culture.
“And soon, when the Covid-19 will have disappeared, the CCAS does not rule out inviting residents of the neighborhoods again, to share these astonishing moments with the residents of retirement homes.
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Languedoc Roussillon
Retirement home
Music
The elderly
Montpellier
nursing home
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