Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

Newsflash/Orfeon Donostiarra

This is the moment choir members sing Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ while isolating at home to pay tribute to COVID-19 workers and victims.

The musical tribute was performed by around 40 members of the famous Orfeon Donostiarra (Donostiarra Choir) based in the northern Spanish region of Basque Country, and the video has been viewed 120,000 times on YouTube.

The choir’s artistic sub-director Esteban Urzelai told Newsflash: “The idea first came several weeks ago, just a couple of days after the lockdown started.

“First, a piano backing track was recorded and sent to the vocalists who were asked to sing to the track while at home. They then sent the videos to us before being edited together by our press head.

“Some of the singers were a little embarrassed despite performing around 30 concerts a year, but in the end they all did it.”

Urzelai told Newsflash: “Our choir is made up of amateur singers who are doctors, nurses and engineers. They dedicate their free time to practising.”

He added: “It is for all those who are working and fighting against COVID-19 as well as those at home taking part in a passive battle to avoid the pandemic. It is also in memory of those who have left us.”

‘Hallelujah’ was written and recorded by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen in 1984.

There have been many cover versions of the iconic song, most notably by American singer Jeff Buckley in 1994.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University Spain has registered 140,510 cases of COVID-19 and 13,798 related deaths.

Meanwhile, 43,208 people have made full recoveries.

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