Did you see a mother, a grandmother, a little girl, a woodsman & a big bad wolf in Hartford this past Sunday afternoon? They were celebrating Family Day at Connecticut Opera, and everyone had an enjoyable, exciting time.
How far did you travel to attend the event? My journey was the longest - all the way from England - and it certainly was worthwhile. There were two performances of 'Little Red Riding Hood', a charming opera with familiar tunes; did you hum along, under your breath, perhaps remembering your own introduction to opera as a child when you were too young to realise what opera was all about? Based on Sunday's response to the performances, I'd say that everyone loved the drama, the beautiful singing, the bright costumes and the treats.
Aric asked me to help out by giving programmes to the young guests on arrival; the children then moved quickly to the far end of the room where costumes were available for trying on, helped by Lavell Thompson. Conveniently placed mirrors were popular, as bears, a sea captain, princesses and imaginary beings gazed at the transformation.
The program began with a warm welcome from Willie Anthony Waters, the popular Maestro of Connecticut Opera, and then the magical story unfolded. With brilliant sets and costumes, the mesmerizing music played by Christopher Devlin, and the outstanding singing of the young Resident Artists, we were transported to a world of make-believe that seemed real to us.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a Question Time following each performance; children were eager to know about the story, the costumes, the Woodsman's axe, and other probing issues. The Resident Artists were approachable and happy to share their ideas with the audience, posing for photographs and signing the programmes.
Refreshments were served to everyone, with homemade cookies, fresh popcorn, juice and water. There were goodie bags for the young guests, and we laughed at the marvelous wolf masks that soon appeared; eating a cookie while wearing a mask is a bit of a challenge.
The success of Family Day depended also on the enthusiasm of the student volunteers from the University of Hartford; along with the Connecticut Opera Staff and Board members, they ensured a memorable experience for all of us, whether tiny tots, school-age boys and girls, parents or grandparents.
It was a brilliant afternoon. Be sure to watch out for the next Family Day.
Margaret Mary Cochrane
How far did you travel to attend the event? My journey was the longest - all the way from England - and it certainly was worthwhile. There were two performances of 'Little Red Riding Hood', a charming opera with familiar tunes; did you hum along, under your breath, perhaps remembering your own introduction to opera as a child when you were too young to realise what opera was all about? Based on Sunday's response to the performances, I'd say that everyone loved the drama, the beautiful singing, the bright costumes and the treats.
Aric asked me to help out by giving programmes to the young guests on arrival; the children then moved quickly to the far end of the room where costumes were available for trying on, helped by Lavell Thompson. Conveniently placed mirrors were popular, as bears, a sea captain, princesses and imaginary beings gazed at the transformation.
The program began with a warm welcome from Willie Anthony Waters, the popular Maestro of Connecticut Opera, and then the magical story unfolded. With brilliant sets and costumes, the mesmerizing music played by Christopher Devlin, and the outstanding singing of the young Resident Artists, we were transported to a world of make-believe that seemed real to us.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a Question Time following each performance; children were eager to know about the story, the costumes, the Woodsman's axe, and other probing issues. The Resident Artists were approachable and happy to share their ideas with the audience, posing for photographs and signing the programmes.
Refreshments were served to everyone, with homemade cookies, fresh popcorn, juice and water. There were goodie bags for the young guests, and we laughed at the marvelous wolf masks that soon appeared; eating a cookie while wearing a mask is a bit of a challenge.
The success of Family Day depended also on the enthusiasm of the student volunteers from the University of Hartford; along with the Connecticut Opera Staff and Board members, they ensured a memorable experience for all of us, whether tiny tots, school-age boys and girls, parents or grandparents.
It was a brilliant afternoon. Be sure to watch out for the next Family Day.
Margaret Mary Cochrane
1 comment:
Virginia Opera's fourth annual Family Day at the Opera brings to the Harrison Opera House stage a special family adaptation of Pinocchio, featuring two performances of the timeless story about the adventure of a young wooden puppet who longs to become a real boy.
In addition to a reserved seat at either the 11:00pm or 3:00pm performance of Pinocchio, admission includes access to the following indoor/outdoor events and activities from 10:00am until 3:00pm.
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