By Derek Schlennstedt
A Kilsyth tenor is repaying the people who helped him when he had a stroke by performing an opera concert to raise funds for The Eastern Health Stroke Foundation.
Charles De Long, an accomplished Opera tenor and singing teacher, has enjoyed a lifetime of singing opera, and as someone who sings “everywhere and anywhere,” it was a concern when in May, he found it difficult to say a single word.
The 82-year-old tenor said that he found himself struggling to communicate with people in his community – an inability to talk properly often the first sign of a blood clot blockage in the brain.
“In May I couldn’t speak, and was in hospital for a month,” he said.
“I couldn’t speak for three days when I had the stroke.”
“The three hospitals that looked after me and treated me so well … upon my discharge I said to them, ‘as a token of appreciation I would like to give something back.’”
Mr De Long spent some of his time at the Angliss Hospital in Upper Ferntree Gully – part of Eastern Health.
He said that he was afraid and uncertain whether he would still be able to sing following the stroke.
Only five months later, the veteran tenor is on song and practising classics such as Nessun Dorma.
“I have been doing it so extensively and so often that it comes naturally and automatically – I find it hard to speak, but not hard to sing.”
Although a stroke can have debilitating effects, the 82-year-old has not let it slow him down, and to show his appreciation for the care he received at Eastern Health, the tenor is hosting a concert on 4 November in Kilsyth.
That concert will feature gems and excerpts from Grand Opera, operettas, musicals and light classics, and Mr De Long will perform works from Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Bizet.
The performance will include a focus on those who served in war and there will also be a tribute to Dame Nellie Melba.
“We start off the concert singing the Australia Anthem and then there will be a minute’s silence … then the fun starts,” he said.
The concert will be held on 4 November at Kilsyth Memorial Hall at 4pm.
Tickets are $30, and there is also cheese and wine at 3pm.
For tickets, contact Mr De Long on 9722 9568 or 0426 412 018.
