Love, Compassion and HOPE for Ukraine

Posted by on 13 October 2022

An Afternoon of Opera with The Friends of the HOPE Foundation.

IT WAS wonderful to welcome one hundred guests to a fund-raising Afternoon of Opera, after having had to cancel many planned events over the past two years.

IT WAS wonderful to welcome one hundred guests to a fund-raising Afternoon of Opera, after having had to cancel many planned events over the past two years.

I must admit that staging an event with Covid still circulating in our community, required thought and care mixed with anxiety, but seating was well spaced in the hall and guests wore their masks.

The Friends of the HOPE Foundation Committee’s goal is always to raise funds for research into ageing but when the world was shocked at the destruction in Ukraine and the devastating effects on all its people, it felt we could include them in our fundraising.

With assistance of Heather Pascual, an opera singer, what could be better than an Opera for Ukraine?

“One enchanted evening,” beautifully sung by Arthur Adams-Close, set the tone of the afternoon, it was so tempting to sing along with it. Clare Hood, a coloratura soprano filled the hall with her high notes. The programme

also included well known songs from Vaughan Williams, Strauss, Mozart and more. The best parts for me, were when Arthur and Clare sang and acted together in the “Take me as I am.” We were all invited to sing the chorus of Edelweiss, which stirred up memories for us all.  

It was such a treat to be in a hall filled with music and beautiful singing. The musical programme, concluded with the audience standing, as the opera singers together with the Ukrainian consul and his wife, sang a stirring rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem. It was an emotional ending.

Afternoon tea with delicious bites, continued the conviviality.

Our funds will meet the needs of older people, such as food, shelter, and medicine in the city of Zhytomyr. This was the hometown of Mikhail Tablis and his wife, prior to coming to NZ. Many of you will have heard Mikhail play the piano at our events. We were able through them, to contact the city leaders. Zhytomyr was bombed on
25 May, when many people were displaced, schools, hospitals and cultural centres destroyed.

Thank you to all our supporters who attended and gave generously to the people of Zhytomyr.

We look forward to seeing you at our next fundraising event.