Dementia at the opera
Published 22 April 2010
Scientists and artists have been working together to produce a new opera exploring the experiences of dementia.
An opera about old age and dementia is beginning its tour across England and Wales from 20 May.The Lion's Face is the result of a collaboration between The Opera Group and the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College, London.
It tells the stories of the main character Mr D's experience of dementia, as well as those of his wife, his caregiver and her daughter, and the clinical psychiatrist.
Librettist Glyn Maxwell, who has worked with composer Elena Langer before, says,
'We learned a lot from people in the fight against dementia when researching this project.Read the full article by Rachael Doeg in Living with Dementia May issueThe story is about a man with dementia who is trying to make sense of a confusing world. He is still able to communicate but doesn't recognise his family anymore, but the focus isn't just on him. It'sabout what the others go through. Mr D is the only one with a spoken role; the others all sing.'
