People & Lifestyle story, June 2005
| A SONG OF LOVE
Mezzo Soprano Catherine chose Rape of Lucretia because it embraces both love and loss. By: Andrea Kon |
When world renowned Mezzo soprano Catherine Wyn-Rogers, 50, from Wooton-under-Edge lost her father to prostate cancer five years ago, she was devastated.
Recently, she persuaded other international opera stars, including Geraldine McGreevy, Sir Thomas Allen, and Leigh Melrose to perform free alongside her in a charity concert of the Rape of Lucretia. All proceeds from the concert held at St. John’s, Smith Square in London on March 23rd were donated to Prostate Research Campaign UK, the only British charity to fund research into all kinds of prostate disease.
Ms Wyn-Rogers, who during a career spanning 25 years, has sung with the Royal Opera, The English National Opera, The Munich State Opera and The Amsterdam Concertgerboun says she was particularly keen to sing Rape of Lucretia in her father’s memory.
“Prostate cancer is the ’Cinderella’ of all cancers as has been highlighted by a report published only last week,” she explains. “My father hated going to the doctor and by the time he sought help as a result of pain in his back, his cancer had spread into his bones and it had gone too far for surgery. He wasn’t considered a suitable candidate for chemotherapy or radiotherapy so he was offered hormone treatment because it slows the disease. But I watched him suffer in silence from great pain before he died.”
“I decided to sing Benjamin Britten’s Rape of Lucretia because although it is a tragic opera, it not only embraces the love of one human being for another but it is also about loss. Watching my father suffer during the 11 months from diagnosis to death was tragic and my family lost a beloved husband and father.”
The concert was introduced by Humphrey Burton CBE and conducted by Steuart Bedford.
For further information about the work of Prostate Research Campaign UK or for information about prostate disease, please review this website or contact us at the address below.