None shall sleep when strata Pavarotti pipes up

It’s one of the most famous arias in opera, but Nessun Dorma – it means “none shall sleep” – could apply to shift workers, restless babies and Sunday afternoon nappers in the Sydney suburb of Meadowbank.

There, a mystery and clearly accomplished opera singer, has become known as the strata Pavarotti, and has been adding a veneer of culture to the Sunday afternoons.

But that’s not how everyone sees it. To some neighbours, practising his scales at full volume from the balcony of his unit, for 90 minutes every week, is intruding on the peaceful enjoyment of their homes.

Either way, his singing has raised a number of strata related issues. And you can judge for yourself how intrusive or delightful this is on the Instagram post that sparked this kerfuffle. 

Would you put up with this every week?  Would you actually look forward to it? Or would you be writing to your strata committee demanding they put a stop to it?

JimmyT was on ABC radio “Afternoons” this week and found himself in the middle of a great debate about whether this was a good or bad thing. You can catch up with the chat with Tim Webster HERE (about 40 minutes in).

Some of the arguments in favour ranged from this was OK during covid to it’s during the day so you can make as much noise as you want. One opera singer said it’s not “noise” it’s music and they have to practice for five hours a day so where else can they do it.

Predictably, there were the “housies” who said this was another reason why living in apartments is such a bad idea for everyone.

Taking those points in order, this is not Covid, that was then, and this is now and we can all start living normally again.

The daytime argument – based on the fact that you can call the cops if your neighbour is making a noise after 11pm or before 7 am – doesn’t fly. 

It doesn’t mean you can make all the noise you want the rest of the time. Strata law says you can’t disturb your neighbour’s peaceful enjoyment of their home at any time.

Now, the definition of disturbance is open to interpretation and a Tribunal Member might rule that classical music at any volume for a relatively short period doesn’t break the rules, but there’s certainly no carte blanche to make as much noise as you want in an apartment during the day.

As for the tired old argument that this is an example of what’s wrong with living in apartments, at least in a strata scheme you have by-laws to protect you.  In a house you just have to put up with it, as one ABC listener who had lived next door to an opera teacher’s house explained. There, it was aria after aria, scales after scales, all day, most days.

So, as someone who’s partial to a bit of opera, and likes a lot of music, I’m torn because I actually think you shouldn’t do anything to annoy your neighbours if you can possibly avoid it.

So what do you think?  Click on the poll below – is silence golden in strata or should the phantom of this soap opera be allowed to give his tonsils free rein.

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