Handel helps the homeless in new single from Streetwise Opera

24 April 2013, 12:32 | Updated: 24 April 2013, 13:56

English Soprano Elizabeth Watts joins forces with The Sacconi Quartet and Streetwise Opera Chorus to raise money for UK homeless.

Homeless singers and opera stars have joined forces in a new charity single from Streetwise Opera. The new version of Handel's 'Lascia ch'io pianga' from his opera Rinaldo features Elizabeth Watts singing with the Streetwise Opera Chorus, as part of their new opera, The Answer to Everything.

The new film stars all performers from the charity's 11 groups around the UK as well as a professional cast. Soprano Elizabeth Watts, patron of Streetwise Opera, makes an appearance as a singing cleaning lady, performing the new single with Streetwise performers from Nottingham and Manchester, conducted by Duncan Ward.

"It's been one of the most amazing things I've been involved in in my career," she said. "I was at the premiere last night and it was mind-blowing. I was almost speechless.

"It's incredible to see all those people with all the problems in their life, really passionate about something, about singing. If we could get a load of homeless people into the top 40 with this single, we could convince people to change their attitudes about homelessness in general."

Streetwise CEO Matt Peacock said: "This single is a perfect illustration of our ambition to produce work that is of equal artistic and social merit and that no matter what life throws at you, you can achieve great things."

The single is available to download on iTunes for 79p.