Health

Brazil firefighters offer confined citizens music concerts from 50 meters up

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Apr 1 (efe-epa).- A peculiar concert animated hundreds of citizens Wednesday in a Brazilian neighborhood who, confined to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, were delighted with a Brazilian music repertoire performed by a trumpeter firefighter from 50 meters above the ground.

At the top of one of the lifts used to put out fires, Second Lt. Elielson Silva dos Santos performed works by renowned Brazilian composers – such as “Samba do Aviao,” by Tom Jobim, and “Aquarela,” by Ary Barroso – with his trumpet in Rio de Janeiro

The inhabitants surrounding the Largo do Machado square, located in the southern Laranjeiras neighborhood, enjoyed the music dos Santos brought to his windows, which included the notes of the national anthem.

Inspired by a German initiative during the COVID-19 confinement, the Rio de Janeiro Fire Department decided to launch such initiative in some points of the city. They set up in places such as Copacabana beach, the iconic Laguna Rodrigo de Freitas, the luxurious neighborhoods of Leblon and Barra Tijuca and Largo do Machado square.

Other concerts were hosted in Rocinha – the largest favela in the capital – and in other communities such as Cruzada São Sebastião and Vidigal.

The idea is that people who cannot go out into the streets enjoy a musical show from 50 meters of height, from the windows of nearby buildings.

“The action aims to calm the soul and lift the spirit in such difficult times and, at the same time, remember that firefighters are always close to citizens. Always ready to serve society,” the department’s press office said.

The firefighters’ action has spread to other municipalities in the state, such as Nova Friburgo, where another firefighter, this time a saxophonist, offered a Tuesday concert to the city’s residents.

According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, at least 240 people have died from the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil, where there are already more than 6,836 infected.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced new steps Wednesday to address the economic impact of COVID-19 after a telephone conversation with Donald Trump, who spent weeks downplaying the threat before admitting that coronavirus could kill as many as 240,000 people in the United States. EFE-EPA

mat/lds

Related Articles

Back to top button