Education
Opera Brava workshops in schools
For over 30 years Opera Brava have been providing inspirational and unique workshops for children aged 7- 13, introducing them to this amazing art form whilst creating a participative and fun environment for both pupils and teachers.
The workshops are led by 7 professional artists who have worked in many different places, including Opera houses such as Covent Garden and English National Opera. Opera Brava’s objective is to educate children about Opera, presenting it in a fun and exciting atmosphere, encouraging everyone to be involved. We create a dynamic and friendly environment and aim to encourage confidence within each child leaving memories that last a lifetime.
Having worked with over 20,000 children in over 250 schools, the feedback we have received is a testament to the success of our workshops.
AN INTRODUCTION TO OPERA
WORKSHOP ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO OPERA
Workshop One introduces children to the fantastic world of Opera. A whistle-stop tour of different styles beginning with Gluck and Handel and journeying all the way through to Gershwin. The children begin by learning about breathing, posture, Italian vowels, vocal warmups, tongue-twisters and working as a team in a short sung Italian extract. All this takes place in a creative, participative, action-packed and informative two hour workshop.
LET’S MAKE AN OPERA
WORKSHOP TWO: LET’S MAKE AN OPERA
Opera Brava will spend six days with the pupils preparing them to perform a fully staged Opera. The Operas we will be offering are ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and ‘Prince Caspian’ by C.S Lewis, composed by Jenny Gould. Children will not only learn how to sing but will be taught skills such as prop and mask making, dancing, stage management, acting and everything that goes into making an Operatic success! Parents and friends are invited to attend the performance which would either take place in a local venue or in the school.
Through the schools' program the children work with a range of professional individuals to develop their knowledge and enjoyment of music and at the end of the week they perform in a fully staged opera.
Opera Brava started working in schools in 1998 creating their own workshops and bringing in composers to work alongside them. Their first piece was the "Space Dragon of Galatar" by John Painter. Then came the premiere of two modern and challenging mini operas, "The Prodigal Son" and "The Selfish Giant" by Matthew King, now an internationally renowned composer.
A large scale work was then commissioned called "The Promise" this was written by Jill Townsend based on Luke‘s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. The Promise premiered at the Queen Elizabeth Hall London in 1997. It involved 200 or more children, 10 opera singers an actor and a 22 piece orchestra. This Opera was repeated twice more giving hundreds of children from many varying backgrounds the opportunity to perform.
Opera Brava then decided to work with the wonderful "Chronicles of Narnia" by C. S. Lewis. First came "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" composed by Ann Beresford. Then later Opera Brava commissioned an enthusiastic young composer, Jenny Gould, to write a second opera based on CS Lewis’s book, "Prince Caspian".
These operas have been very successful over many years and the children have loved working with opera singers, designers a composer and a director. They also spend time during the workshops designing and creating masks and props their hard work culminates in putting on a fully staged opera for their parents peers and teachers at the end of the week.
“Thank you once again for bringing such a special experience to our children. Every child in this country should have this opportunity! What I love most is that opera is cool in our school! How cool is that!”
“Last year my daughter was lucky enough to be part of your Lion the witch and the wardrobe production at Brinkley Grove primary. As one of the audience that afternoon, I was not alone in thinking it was one of the best school productions I have ever seen.”
“I loved opera brava because we learnt all different warm-ups. Also I love that it gave people a lot of confidence to stand up in front of a crowd.”