Peter Kendall Clark can’t go more than two feet from his home without being recognized.
“I’ve been in professional theater for 40 years and the most attention I’ve ever gotten is for singing karaoke show tunes on a stoop in Brooklyn,” said Clark.
What You Need To Know
- While the Metropolitan Opera may still be shuttered, there's another way to be treated to an operatic performance
- And even better, the performance is free
- For almost a year, Brooklyn teacher and performer Peter Kendall Clark has been putting on a weekly concert for his Brooklyn Heights neighbors
The Opera singer and St. Ann’s music teacher made a name for himself as the "Brownstone Baritone,” performing for his Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Back in May of last year he started performing on the street shortly after the 7 p.m. clap as a tribute to the essential workers.
“There's so many songs where the lyrics you've known them your whole life, but the poignancy of them now is, you know, it just takes you by surprise - something like, ‘there’s a place for a place for us, somewhere a place for us,’ and you're just, you could hardly get the words out because it's suddenly so moving. It seems about like what we're going through,” Clark said.
Due to annoyed neighbors and overcrowding, he’s bopped around a few times before settling on two new locations, including 62 Montague Street and College Place. Clark admits the acoustics aren’t always ideal, but he and his co-performers always find a way to make it work.
"There's helicopters all the time,” he said. “And you know, you're singing, you know, Du bist die Ruh of Schubert. But it's the city. What can you do?"
Peter says he’s fortunate to still have a full salary from his teaching job, and does not solicit any tips. He directs those who ask to make a donation to The Actors Fund to support his friends in the performing arts.
Jessica Rich has been bringing her young daughter Mila to the concerts every week.
“This has been incredible because she can’t sit through a two hour performance of an opera. So this has just been an amazing eye opening experience for us,” said Rich.
Another attendee, Rita Schwartz, who's stoop used to host Clark, is grateful for the community he has created.
“What he has done for people who live alone, who have been isolated, who have just come out because this is the only chance to come out,” said Schwartz. “Suddenly, this is a neighborhood, everybody knows who you are even with a mask on.”
You can take in one of Peter’s concerts every Wednesday at 6 p.m.. For more information, head to songsfromtheledge.com.