Singing an old friend's praises

ROBERT KITCHIN/The Dominion Post

Much better than an alarm clock: Peter Hurd woke from a deep sleep to hear tenor Ben Makisi sing at the Mary Potter Hospice open day

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It was a scene straight out of a soap opera when tenor Ben Makisi performed at Mary Potter Hospice, and encountered a face from his past.

As Makisi launched into Puccini's Nessun Dorma – or None Shall Sleep – Peter Hurd woke from a deep slumber at the other end of the hospice. Minutes later, nurses wheeled him through the doors and Makisi could hardly believe his eyes.

"Back when I was just starting out, with the Wellington City Opera, he was in the chorus, and he used to pick me up and drop me off at my house in Newtown," Makisi said.

"I'll always remember when I was younger he used to give me advice ... It was so special to see him."

Hospice chief executive Ria Earp said Mr Hurd had been in a deep sleep before Makisi's performance, but heard the tenor's serenade ringing down the halls.

"The staff knew Peter was interested in opera and we had suggested that when Ben had finished his performance, he go down to room nine – but then the nurses wheeled him in. We had not realised that they knew each other and had sung together."

Makisi said he was floored to see Mr Hurd and admitted he felt a tear come to his eye. "I was completely taken aback. That has to be the highlight of my visit."

Mr Hurd was equally delighted and said it "made his day" to hear Makisi's voice again.

The opera singer was invited to the hospice's 30th anniversary celebration by a cousin who works there, and had agreed to sing for an unusual fee – a chocolate cake.

Staff said there was no mistaking the effect that seeing his old friend had had on Mr Hurd.

"He was beaming from ear to ear – and the staff said he was continuing to beam from ear to ear for about an hour afterwards," Ms Earp said.

Makisi will be back in Wellington to sing at the Brother Christmas Spectacular at Lower Hutt's Fraser Park next month.

- © Fairfax NZ News