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Opera star Faryl brings cheer to child patients
Miranda Bryant20 Nov 2009
Children at Great Ormond Street Hospital were thrilled by a surprise visit from opera star Faryl Smith.
The 14-year-old toured the wards before her performance at the hospital's carol concert next month.
Parents said their children were delighted to meet last year's Britain's Got Talent finalist, who has since released a best-selling album.
Learning support assistant Louise Best, 47, of Harpenden, whose daughter Jaii, 14, has cerebral palsy, said: "She was thrilled to meet Faryl. She had her hair brushed for it, she knew exactly who Faryl was, it was lovely."
Chris Smith, 43, father of brain tumour patient Chloe, two, said visitors such as Faryl helped soften the blow that the family would be spending Christmas in hospital.
Faryl, from Kettering, paid tribute to Great Ormond Street staff. "They make it so nice for the children, it doesn't seem like a hospital," she said. "All the parents are always lovely but it's the children that really make you think. It makes me think about all the experiences I am having now."
Lesley Miles, of Great Ormond Street's children's charity, said: "We're thrilled Faryl has agreed to perform. We're so grateful to all our performers because we can raise funds for the neurosciences unit."
The concert is on 10 December at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge.
Reader views (1)
Whist happy to acknowledge her visit and whatever it does to cheer up the children and their parents, please do not describe Faryl Smith as an opera star. She has never sung in an opera and has not trained or studied to do so. Indeed, it is almost certain that she will never sing or participate in one. Ergo, she CANNOT be an opera star, just as you cannot be a football star if you do not play football*.
* I won't take to the point too far: after all Katie Price is a best selling author .....!
Like most of the singers of her ilk, such as Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Paul Potts, and the erstwhile G4, they are ostensibly classical singers. Some were formally trained such as Jenkins and G4, attended music acadamies and participated in operas as students.
They have or may have the voices to sustain an opera career (which is very demanding) or make occasional opera appearances if they choose to do so. However, their positioning in the music market is what is termed crossover, the repertoire being a mixture of choral items, light classical, some opera arias, songs from musicals and pop ballards. All effectively eschew operas as such and therefore are not opera singers.
- William, London, 20/11/2009 12:56
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