Opera-singing doctor serenades NHS hospital staff with impassioned ‘Nessun dorma’
24 March 2020, 10:30 | Updated: 10 April 2020, 12:42
In a rare moment of quiet at this NHS hospital, one doctor decided to bring the joy of Puccini to fellow staff on the frontline.
‘None shall sleep…’, as Pavarotti famously sings. Now, one opera-singing medic is bringing Puccini’s poignant aria to fellow NHS staff on duty amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Royal Academy of Music opera student, Alex Aldren, studied medicine at the University of Birmingham and worked at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. And during this unprecedented time for hospitals across the country, he is one of nearly 20,000 fully qualified staff to return to the NHS frontline.
In a rare moment of peace for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff working around the clock, Aldren treated his coworkers to a rousing rendition of Puccini’s aria ‘Nessun dorma’ (‘None Shall Sleep’).
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One of our SHO’s today is Alex who’s also an opera singer, returning to the NHS frontline during the COVID outbreak.
— Russell (@Medic_Russell) March 22, 2020
He’s treating the team to some shows during quieter periods! Bravo! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/tVlsoYuVsm
A fellow staff member posted Aldren’s performance to Twitter, saying:
“One of our SHO’s [Senior House Officers] today is Alex who’s also an opera singer, returning to the NHS frontline during the COVID outbreak.
“He’s treating the team to some shows during quieter periods! Bravo!”
Read more: This orchestra’s ‘Ode to Joy’ Skype concert is everything the world needs >
This Thursday, Classic FM and its sister stations at Global are joining people around the UK to take part in a huge round of applause to show our appreciation for all those working in the NHS during the coronavirus outbreak.
The #clapforourcarers campaign will take place at 8pm, and will be heard from balconies, gardens and windows up and down the country.
