Opera house reopens, holds concert for packed house ... of plants

BARCELONA, Spain (SBG) — Studies suggest talking and singing to your plants helps them grow, but the research is still out on the effects of playing them a symphony.

That's what one string quartet did in Barcelona, Spain.

TheGran Teatre del Liceu opera house reopened Monday and performed its first concert since the coronavirus lockdown. Since the audience consisted of plants, no one had to worry about social distancing.

Artist Eugenio Ampudia filled the hall with nearly 2,300 plants as the UceLi Quartet performed Puccini's I Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums) live. There were exactly 2,292 plants – one for each seat in the theater.

This seems like a lot of work, leaving many to ask the question, "Why?" Ampudia said he was inspired by nature during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I heard many more birds singing. And the plants in my garden and outside growing faster. And, without a doubt, I thought that maybe I could now relate in a much intimate way with people and nature,” Ampudia told The Associated Press before the performance."

As the four musicians finished, the sound of rustling leaves and branches resonated like applause. The opera house said it hopes the concert reminds people to connect with nature as they return to their normal routines.

Since the only members in the audience were those that could photosynthesize, the 8-minute concert was livestreamed for humans.

As for the plants that attended, the theater said they will be gifted to local health workers as a way of thanks for their efforts during the pandemic.