Opera offers a potentially rich theatrical experience for children, opening up a world of music, singing, acting, costumes, drama and excitement. Given the diverse elements that make up a single production, there will be something that will be of interest to most children.
Preparation for Going to the Opera
Most children are accustomed to sitting through the length of a feature film. However, they are also used to there being a certain amount of audience noise during a cinema outing. So, explain to them that there will be real people on stage and in the orchestra pit, and that if they are noisy, they could distract the performers.
Next, find a recording of the opera you will be taking them to see so that you can play excerpts prior to the outing. When they are at the performance, there will be familiar tunes. Knowing that they will hear things they know creates a different sense of anticipation, encouraging them to be patient and wait.
Learn the story. The company mounting the production will probably have a short synopsis of the opera on their website, and a web search will result in many more. Break the story into simple elements, depending on the age of the children, and make the characters familiar for them. That way, they will seem like old friends when they appear on stage.
Open Air Opera
Many companies are beginning to do free outdoor productions of an opera during a season. These are a great option for the whole family, where you can take a picnic and join many others looking for a fun and different night out. In this less formal environment, children can be comfortable wriggling and chattering without fear of disturbing others.
Going to the Theatre
If late nights pose a difficulty for very young children, look for matinee performances on a weekend afternoon. Often, they can be less expensive.
Make getting dressed up to go out to the opera something special. Little girls, particularly, will relish the opportunity to put on a pretty dress and to see other people dressed up for a special occasion. Let the children know that once they are in the theatre, they can’t get up to go in and out, so bathroom stops prior to settling down for the performance are vital.
Pack high energy snacks the children can eat during intervals. What is available in the theatre may not be suitable.
Choosing the Right Opera
There are some operas that were written for children to perform, such as Englebert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Malcolm Williamson’s The Happy Prince. These are short, one-act operas with familiar story lines and accessible tunes. They are not mainstream repertoire for most companies, so look for smaller opera companies and student performances to access performances.
Rossini’s Cenerentola tells the Cinderella story. It is from an operatic genre known as bel canto, so the music is lush and rich, with spectacular runs. Another fairy tale based opera is Puccini’s Turandot, based on an old Chinese story. The tenor aria, Nessun dorma, is one of the best known operatic arias due to Luciano Pavarotti singing it for the World Cup.
The operas of Mozart are also good starting points for children. His Italian operas that tell stories of ordinary people, such as The Marriage of Figaro and Cosi Fan Tutte are good choices as there will be interactions that are amusing and familiar. The Magic Flute, sung in German, has fantasy characters in interesting costumes, mythical beasts and magical instruments. It is a busy plot that is quite complicated, but still very accessible.
No matter what your choice of opera, remember that preparation is vital, and once you are there, allowing the children to relax into the experience and take it in at their own pace will increase the enjoyment for everyone.
Karen Finch - Karen is a Sydney based freelance writer, artist and musician. To learn more, click on her name to read her profile.
Join the Conversation