for Young Audiences in Europe

EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR OPERA AND DANCE EDUCATION 2 RESEO 2013 OPERA FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES INEUROPE RESEO 2013 2013 RESEO

3 AMAZE ME OPERA FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES IN EUROPE

Introduction An operatic springtime is budding. Productions for young audiences are increasingly stepping out of the shadows. Amazing audiences throughout Europe with their vivacity and daring, youth are indeed taking centre-stage in the world of contemporary creation. Opera companies across Europe have been asking themselves challenging questions. How can we engage with and build new, curious and open-minded audiences? How can we foster alternative creation and renew the artform of opera? Large main-stage productions invest great effort to connect with today’s audiences. Opera companies work hard to attract young people and new target groups with a varied selection of repertoire. Many companies struggle nonetheless to fill their seats with stagings of new forms of opera and the work of modern composers. An increasing number of opera organisations are turning to productions for young audiences, as a means of attracting audiences to opera at an early age. Children are curious and open to novelty; their habits and expectations offer no barrier to the discovery of the new. Productions for young audiences are, of course, not just marketing and audience-building initiatives. These productions are creating a genre of their own, experimenting with new subject matters, tonality and imagery, furthering cross-art adventures. Such productions demand flexibility and are forcing opera companies to reconsider the traditional hierarchies in the processes of making opera. Young people have always been among the most demanding of audiences; they want and deserve to see the most exciting work. This has pushed opera creators to think differently about opera and how it communicates, engaging artists and administrators in a healthy process that can only enrich the artform. Taking a more political view, productions for young audiences speak of something more fundamental; they underline the democratic right for all to access culture. They inspire creativity, champion integration and equality, and suggest a more sustainable future for all. Operas for children transcend obstacles created by social backgrounds and

4 RESEO 2013 sweep audiences away to imaginative worlds where age isnotaissue. ages. theseproductions success The judged canbe by to their ability of productions, as, more often thannot, all are they of atpeople aimed thecritics.or the opinions of Adults have alsoenjoyed these many of give immediate, honest feedback, uninhibited by conventions social are submitted to theapproval anaudience thatdoes nothesitate to of for young performed) be throughout people Europe.will As such, they members across Europe. to redress thisoversight productions by and provide its of anoverview suffer visibility. from alack of Throughthispublication, RESEOseeks or participative formats. traditions, reaching out to all, through school whether performances and, doing, inso reach out to children’s city. inyour own hearts and touch you. You for atour, them oneof inspired be to revive may even Finland to Malta, Portugal to Russia. and even for toddlers. Discover European diversity atitsbest, from productions. Findout more aboutproductions for teens, for children, operas, adventures, cross-arts and main-stage formats small matter subject embraced. boldly contemporary Discover participatory repertoire revisited. Discover stories well-known retold and productions for young audiences inEurope; new creations and And who knows, maybe one of these productions will amaze, intrigue And amaze, intrigue knows, maybe will who productions these oneof The productionsThe have selected (or insome cases, performed been Despite their increasing success, productions for young audiences Co-directors RESEO Katherine Heid andIsabel Joly Discover opera fascinating of inthispublication aselection

5 AMAZE ME Table of contents 34 DOUCE AND BLUEBEARD DOUCE ET BARBE- BLEUE Opéra de Lyon, France

8 THE ABDUCTION FROM THE 36 THE ELEPHANT ANGEL SERAGLIO Scottish Opera, United Kingdom L'ENLÈVEMENT AU SÉRAIL 38 THE ELIXIR OF LOVE Opéra de Rouen, France L’ELISIR D’AMORE 10 ALADDIN AND HIS MAGIC LAMP Associazione Musicale Tito ALADIN ET LA LAMPE Gobbi, Italy MERVEILLEUSE Opéra national du Rhin, France 12 ALI BABA AND THE FORTY 40 GULLIVER, RETURN TO LILLIPUT THIEVES GULLIVER, LILLIPUT ALLER- ALI BABA UND DIE 40 RÄUBER RETOUR Komische Oper , Jeune Opéra Compagnie, Switzerland 14 ALIBABACH Companhia de Música Teatral, Portugal 42 IMAGO 16 ALL ABOUT MY FAMILY Glyndebourne, United Kingdom Nasjonale Opera, Norway 18 AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS 44 LISTEN TO THE SILENCE - AMAHL ET LES VISITEURS A JOURNEY WITH JOHN CAGE DE LA NUIT UN VOYAGE AVEC JOHN CAGE Opéra- Théâtre, Switzerland Opéra de Lille, France 46 THE LITTLE MAGIC FLUTE LA PETITA FLAUTA MÀGICA 20 THE BRUSSELS Gran Teatre del Liceu, Spain La Monnaie/ De Munt, Belgium 48 LITTLE RING RINGETJE De Nederlandse Opera /Het Nationale 22 CAUTIONARY TALES! Ballet, Netherlands Opera North, United Kingdom 50 THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES 24 CHAT PERCHÉ - A RURAL OPERA Moscow State Opera and Ballet Theatre CHAT PERCHÉ - OPÉRA RURAL for Children and Young Audiences, Opéra national de Paris, France Russia 26 THE CHILD AND THE SPELLS 52 LYNX, THE LYNX L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILÈGES LYNX, DER LUCHS Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, France Landestheater Linz, Austria

28 DIDO AND AENEAS 54 THE MAGIC PIANO DIDON ET ENÉE Holland Opera, Netherlands Cité de la musique, France 56 MALTESE FOLK TALES 30 DON'T CRY WOLF! Malta Association for LUPUS IN FABULA Contemporary Music, Malta As.Li.Co., Italy 58 MOMO 32 DO RE MI FLEA SO LA TI DO Junge Oper Stuttgart, Germany GRAT’ MOI LA PUCE QUE 60 THE MOORISH QUEEN J’AI DANS L’DO LA REINA MORA Compagnie Minute Papillon, France Teatro de la , Spain

6 RESEO 2013

74 86 84 82 80 78 76 72 70 68 66 64 62

Welsh National Opera, ‘ Malmö Opera, Opéra de Dijon, L’OPÉRA DE LA LUNE Opéra Opéra Royal de Wallonie, TRAVIATA Associazone Culturale Venti Lucenti, Ensemble Justiniana, CURSED RING United Kingdom PLATÉE & LES INDES GALANTES A REAL PRINCESS Les Talens Lyriques, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, PUSS IN BOOTS PS JAG KOMMER SNART HEM! PS I WILL SOON BE HOME! OPERA OF THE MOON GöteborgsOperan, MY MOTHER IS A DRAGON Staatsoper Berlin, MOSKAU TSCHERJOMUSCHKI MOSCOW CHERYOMUSHKI WEST SIDE STORY VOLAPYK VIOLETTA, UNE AUTRE TRAVIATA VIOLETTA, AN ALTERNATIVE Italy LA FIABA DI THE TALE OF AIDA THE SMUGGLED LOVE SIEGFRIED ET L’ANNEAU MAUDIT SIEGFRIED AND THE Théâtre du Capitole, Den Jyske Opera, Rahvusooper Estonia, ARMASTUS SALAKAUBAKS DER GESTIEFELTE KATER MIN MAMMA ÄR EN DRAKE RAMEAU PROJECT

Sweden

France Denmark Germany Sweden France

France France ’

Estonia

Belgium Germany

88

Kungliga Operan, ZÉMIRE OCH AZOR ZÉMIRE AND AZOR Sweden

7 AMAZE ME Co-production between Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie, Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Opéra Théâtre de Saint-Etienne, Teatro Sociale Di Como / As.Li.Co. THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO L’ENLÈVEMENT AU SÉRAIL

MOZART’S POPULAR OPERA IN A SPECIALLY SCALED-DOWN VERSION – WITH A SINGING AUDIENCE.

Composer: Light: percussion Thierry Vareille Running time: (reduced version by Gilles Rico) Cast: 1 hour 15 minutes Librettist: On stage: 4 professional Sung in: Gottlieb Stephanie Jr. singers and 1 circus artist French (adaptation by Gilles Rico) In the audience: Year of premiere: Conductor: Members of the public singing 2013 Federico Santi : Stage Director: 7 first violins, 5 second violins, 4 violas, Yann Dacosta 4 cellos, 2 double basses, 2 flutes and Scenographer/Costumes: piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, Patricia Meus 2 cornets, 2 trumpets, timpani and

8 RESEO 2013 Pedrillo, Blondine’s lover, try to rescue the to Belmonte. Belmonte and his servant love as she has already given her heart Constance keeps refusing the Pasha’s captive in Pasha Selim’s seraglio. Desperate, Constance and her maid Blondine are opera This work is an adapted version of Mozart’s audience as a real character in the action. At air. lighting, setting and an acrobat flying in the Magic is part of the show thanks to music, reason, social conventions and authenticity. rights, describes the battle between love and while highlighting the theme of women's eye on them… two women. But the loyal Osmin keeps an This opera was written to include the A plot full of twists and turns, which

The The Abduction from the Seraglio . with with their school will have the opportunity during the show. Those who see the show the lyrics, to be able to sing their own part home or at school, the children will learn together and enjoy the opera in a new way. children, family and teachers – able to sing the performance, the whole audience – and the demands on the singer. During teacher: the story, the work of the composer to discover more about the opera with their [email protected] www.operaderouen.com HAUTE- NORMANDIE OPÉRA DE ROUEN

9 AMAZE ME Co-production between Opéra national du Rhin and Opéra de Lausanne ALADDIN AND HIS MAGIC LAMP ALADIN ET LA LAMPE MERVEILLEUSE

A STUNNING SPECTACLE CONJURES UP THE MYSTERY AND WONDER OF THE ORIENT, CREATING A HIGHLY IMAGINATIVE BACKDROP TO TELL A MUCH- LOVED STORY OF A BOY AND HIS VERY UNUSUAL LAMP.

Composer: Scenography: Orchestra: Nino Rota Marnik Baert 15 musicians Librettist: Marcoen Dolhain Running time: Adapted by Benoît Deleersnyder Waut Koeken 1 hour 10 minutes from Vinci Verginelli’s translation Costumes: Sung in: of One Thousand and One Nights Van Nyvelseel French Stage Director: Light: Year of premiere: Waut Koeken Glen D’haenens 2009 Conductor: Cast: Vincent Monteil 11 professional singers

10 RESEO 2013 reality converge. Koeken plays with the spectators into a world where dream and of a Fellini composition, and plunges this opera is reminiscent of the fetishism ‘strong dose of exaggeration’, his staging of marvellous through nothing more than a film. Hebelieves it ispossible to depict the only know of Aladdin through the Disney acknowledges that many children today will meets West. Stage director Waut Koeken and magic that takes place when East visual effects, underlining the enchantment original story with a stunning array of combines a faithful interpretation of the in this extraordinary production, which Al-Budur... affections of the beautiful princess Badr’- rescue and, along the way, help him win the lamp and the genie of the ring come to his Aladdin seems doomed, but the genie of the if he can only get his hand on the lamp. magician believes he can rule the world, which has been hidden away in a cave. The a magic lamp he has long coveted, but Aladdin must help an evil magician retrieve A timeless tale brought up-to-date enters an enchanted world, one in which the a giant bed. In these ways, the spectator magic cave, to a tunnel, a castle, and even moving from the door that leads into a story remains faithful to that of the book, up as a banquet table. The thread of the water pipe, whilst an ironing board doubles and props. A vacuum cleaner becomes a objects into a surprising succession of sets imagination, opting to transform everyday infinitepossibilities offered up by the the test. young Aladdin has his true character put to [email protected] www.operanationaldurhin.eu OPÉRA NATIONAL DU RHIN

11 AMAZE ME Komische Oper Berlin ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES ALI BABA UND DIE 40 RÄUBER

A LITERARY CLASSIC INSPIRES A CONTEMPORARY OPERA, BUILT AROUND COLLABORATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN MUSICIANS FROM GERMANY AND TURKEY.

Composer: Costumes: (including small roles); 40-strong Taner Akyol Judith Peter children’s chorus Librettist: Light: Orchestra: Cetin Ipekkaya Diego Leetz Full orchestra, plus zurna, kaval Marietta Rohrer-Ipekkaya Stage Design: Running time: Conductor: Sanne Danz 2 hours Kristiina Poska Dramaturg: Sung in: Stage Director: Ulrich Lenz German and Turkish Matthias Davids Cast: Year of premiere: Scenographer: 10 professional singers and 2012 Melissa King 1 singing actor (); chorus

12 RESEO 2013 is interrupted by the thieves and cut into that gains him entry, but to no avail. He cave’s whereabouts and the magic phrase plans. He forces Ali Baba to reveal the But his greedy brother Kasim has other takes a little gold from the thieves’ hoard. but Ali Baba is a modest man and only Open sesame! with the famous phrase: opening up the cave of a ferocious thief trusty companion, the donkey Karakaçan, The opera begins with Ali Baba and his libretto juxtaposes German and Turkish. mingling with oboes and flutes,whilst the opera One Thousand and One Nights. famous of stories from the great classic native Turkey to re-tell one of the most music traditions with the sounds of his Taner Akyol draws together Western Turkish-born, Berlin-based composer

score features the zurna and the kaval Untold treasures lie within, Açil susam açil! Akyol’s first was a successful collaboration between the unknown intruders. meantime, the thieves look for revenge on body parts and takes them home. In the four pieces. Ali Baba finds his brother’s with with its premiere. children and teenagers, held to coincide as well as in over 100 workshops for cultural and national identity in rehearsal, which stimulated discussions around Turkish and orchestral musicians, one This Turkish-German children’s opera [email protected] www.komische-oper-berlin.de KOMISCHE OPER BERLIN

13 AMAZE ME Companhia de Música Teatral ALIBABACH

A PRODUCTION INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC OF J.S. BACH WHICH SEES TODDLERS ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR PARENTS ON STAGE WITH THE PERFORMERS.

Concept and Production: Scenery and costumes: Year of premiere: Companhia de Música Teatral Ana Guedes 2011 Musical and artistic direction: José Simões Paulo Rodrigues Paulo Maria Rodrigues Cast: Research & management of 2 performers educational resources: Running time: Helena Rodrigues 45 minutes

14 RESEO 2013 children and their carers. There is a contrast interaction and communication between playful environments, to maximise on the using contrasting musical stimuli, as well as with toddlers in previous productions, have garnered extensive experience working reinvention of Bach’s material. strategies focusing on the creative for the development of interdisciplinary which will act as a conceptual laboratory titled first production in a large-scale project, adults and very young children. This is the can become a musical mediator between Bach and the way in which the composer by their carers. It explores the world of J. S. children, aged 0 - 24 months, accompanied performance for audiences of up to 15 AliBaBach Companhia de Música Teatral (CMT) The Big-Handy-Bach-Bag Project is a music-theatre-dance , of of dance and theatre. Its devisers describe it use of toy instruments and a combination The vocal element is complemented by the rooted in the voices of the two performers. of musical styles within this performance, theory. based on Edwin Gordon’s musical learning musical theatre for very young children is music with ears and eyes wide open’. for them to enter, guided by Bach, the world of as ‘ an invitation for babies and those who care [email protected] www.musicateatral.com COMPANHIA DE MÚSICA TEATRAL CMT’s

15 AMAZE ME Bergen Nasjonale Opera ALL ABOUT MY FAMILY

A PERFECT FAMILY WITH A PERFECTLY HAPPY LIFE IS THROWN INTO CONFUSION WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SIMEN, A 17-YEAR-OLD FOSTER CHILD. A LETTER WITH A SURPRISING SECRET COMES TO LIGHT, SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE DRAMA TO COME.

Composer: Light: Sung in: Atle Halstensen Kristoffer Birkkjaer Nielsen Norwegian Librettist: Cast: Year of premiere: Astrid Luisa Niebuhr 6 children (chorus); 1 child (soloist); 3 2013 Stage Director: student soloists; 3 professional soloists Pernille Elimar Musicians: Scenographer/Choreographer/ Chamber orchestra, 15 musicians Costumes: Running time: Jan de Neergaard 1 hour

16 RESEO 2013 18-year-old librettist Astrid Luisa Niebuhr for young people by young people. The All about my Family is his son by a maid who once worked in sets things in motion, revealing that Simen for dramatic change. A letter sent to Johan family, and, it soon turns out, is a catalyst Bergen home. He is being fostered by the motherless 17-year-old boy, Simen, into the any signs of resistance, until the arrival of a perfection. Only grandfather Tobias shows and they work hard to ensure a facade of family should be perfect in every way Anita and Johan are determined their grandfather, also shares the family home. from 14 - 18 years. Tobias, the maternal children, Catherine, Daniel and Eva, aged Anita, father Johan and their three teenage very ordinary Bergen family: mother The opera introduces us to a seemingly whose lives might well reflect their own. audience, as well as to the protagonists adopts a language that appeals to her young is an opera created burns burns down, with echoes of the burning and then Eva goes missing. Soon, everything is turned upside down to rebel, encouraged by grandfather Tobias. friendship, but the two other siblings start his new half-brother Daniel strike up a the house 18 years previously. Simen and the story as it progresses. strong chorus of children who comment on symbolic moments, introduced by the six- ashes of the old. The opera contains other that a new world can only grow out of the of the asylum in Ibsen’s At the close of the opera, the house [email protected] www.bno.no BERGEN NASJONALE OPERA Ghosts

. It suggests

17 AMAZE ME Opéra-Théâtre AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS AMAHL ET LES VISITEURS DE LA NUIT

THE NATIVITY STORY RE-IMAGINED THROUGH THE EYES OF A SHEPHERD BOY AND HIS MOTHER WHOSE POVERTY-STRICKEN LIVES ARE TRANSFORMED BY AN ENCOUNTER WITH THREE KINGS.

Composer/Librettist: Light: (violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, Gian Carlo Menotti Jean Daniel Garcia doublebass, flute, oboe 1, oboe 2, Conductor: Vocal Direction: clarinet, bassoon, cornett, trumpet, Raphaël Fellay Christine Fellay piano, percussion, harp) Stage Director: Cast: Running time: Michèle Cart 5 professional soloists; 1 child soloist; 50 minutes Scenography/Costumes: amateur choir made up of 4 adults and Sung in: Claire Berlie 6 children; 3 amateur dancers French Choreographer: Music: Year of premiere: Béatrice Nauffray Orchestra of 15 musicians 2009

18 RESEO 2013 a wonderful comet and of their search for a under a carpet. The Kings tell their story of deposits the Kings’ parcels filledwith riches riches. She invites them in, and their page Kings for herself, in all their splendour and one of his fantasies but then she sees the to fetch his mother. She thinks it’s another finds three Kings on his doorstep andruns woken by a knocking on the door. Amahl They retire to bed for the night, only to be is tired and has to go begging the next day. mother has no time for his fantasies. She has seen a comet with a long fiery tale. His hut. One night, Amahl tells his mother he his impoverished mother in a shepherd’s view of Amahl, an invalid boy living with network in 1951. It is told from the point of created for the American television this stage adaptation of a drama originally The Nativity Story is given a special twist in over the hidden treasure. King Melchior his mother and the page who are fighting for the night. At dawn, Amahl is woken by the night at the hut, and everyone turns in child soon to be born. They agree to spend been been cured. to everyone’s amazement, his lameness has the child his crutch and stands up. Much and not to great riches. Amahl offers to give child they seek will owe his royalty to love restores order, telling the mother that the [email protected] www.opera-theatre.ch OPÉRA-THÉÂTRE

19 AMAZE ME La Monnaie/De Munt THE BRUSSELS REQUIEM

A BRAND NEW REQUIEM THAT CELEBRATES THE MULTICULTURAL HEART OF BRUSSELS THROUGH A MULTILINGUAL SCORE AND A FASCINATING MIX OF LITERARY AND RELIGIOUS SOURCES.

Composer/Librettist/Conductor: La Monnaie children’s choir; 2 German, Sanskrit, Latin and Hebrew Howard Moody professional soloists Year of premiere: Stage Directors/Scenographers: (1 soprano, 1 baritone) 2010 Ela Baumann Orchestra: Benoît De Leersnyder Full orchestra Light: Running time: Dominique Sournac 55 minutes Cast: Sung in: 200 schoolchildren; 50-strong French, Dutch, English, Italian,

20 RESEO 2013 discovered en route. the fear experienced in other spheres in Paradise, which is completely free from more optimistic world, eventually arriving and are guided by Persephone towards a They meet the sinister Charon,ferryman a musical journey from Hell to Paradise. religious sources. The audience is taken on is made up of a rich variety of cultural and framework underpinning the composition in contemporary Brussels. The literary the different languages and cultures found celebrate multiculturalism by drawing on a Requiem, turning it into a means to transforms the traditional concept of British composer Howard Moody

children’s choir of La Monnaie. by professional musicians and the different schools in the city, accompanied performed by young people from six The Brussels Requiem [email protected] www.lamonnaie.be LA MONNAIE / DE MUNT was originally

21 AMAZE ME Opera North CAUTIONARY TALES!

MISCHIEF AND LIES AND SOME VERY STICKY ENDS FOR SOME VERY NAUGHTY CHILDREN FEATURE IN THIS BITE-SIZED OPERA AIMED AT FAMILY AUDIENCES.

Composer: Light: Running time: Errollyn Wallen Matt Haskins 55 minutes Librettist: (re-designed for touring production by Sung in : Based on verses by Hilaire Belloc, Charlie Lucas) English adapted by Pia Furtado Cast: Year of premiere: Conductor: 4 professional singers 2010 Anthony Kraus (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone) Stage Director/Scenographer: Musicians: Pia Furtado Small ensemble consisting of piano, Set and Costumes: double bass, bass guitar, electric guitar, Madeleine Boyd percussion

22 RESEO 2013 rules, good and bad. between adults and children, freedom and all linked by themes of eternal struggle with dangerous toys! The stories are George what happens to those who play King who chews string; and find out from away Jim; get tied up in knots with Henry the consequences of defiance fromrun- Matilda the dangers of telling lies; discover slams doors for fun; learn from mendacious an eclectic score. Meet wild Rebecca who of five stories of naughty children set to in a bite-sized opera production consisting classic from another era is brought to life satirical and distinctive operatic take on Belloc’s Bad behaviour lies at the heart of this witty Cautionary Cautionary Tales for Children. This Tales introduction introduction to opera. productions of this kind, providing an ideal spaces which might not normally receive touring, particularly to smaller regional of all ages. This production is suitable for musical styles it will appeal to audiences its subject matter and vibrant mix of Opera Opera North developped for family audiences; through [email protected] www.operanorth.co.uk OPERA NORTH Cautionary Cautionary

23 AMAZE ME Co-production between Opéra national de Paris, Artis Diffusion, Bouche d’Or– Compagnie Caroline Gautier, Ensemble 2e2m, Arcal, Fondation Royaumont, Festival Archipel– Genève, Le Théâtre– Scène nationale de Mâcon CHAT PERCHÉ– A RURAL OPERA CHAT PERCHÉ– OPÉRA RURAL

A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY OPERA, SET AGAINST A TIMELESS LANDSCAPE OF LEGEND AND MYTH, INSPIRED BY THE JURA MOUNTAINS AND THE WRITINGS OF AYMÉ.

Composer: Choreography: Music: Jean-Marc Singier Dominique Boivin Ensemble featuring 1 saxophone, Librettist: Costumes: 1 clarinet, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, Caroline Gautier, based on Marcel Sylvie Skinazi percussion Aymé’s Les Contes du chat perché Light: Running time: Conductor: Daniel Lévy 1 hour 15 minutes Pierre Roullier (Ensemble 2e2m) Cast: Sung in: Stage Director: 2 acrobatic dancers; French Caroline Gautier 1 hip-hop dancer; 5 professional Year of premiere: Scenographer: singers (1 soprano, 1 mezzo-soprano, 1 2011 Bruno de Lavenère alto, 1 tenor, 1 bass)

24 RESEO 2013 On a farm, the Parents work all day long dance techniques. played by a performer trained in urban roles taken by singers, and the Panther is animals’ are a Peacock, a Pig, a Duck, all young contortionist acrobats. The ‘star Delphine and Marinette are played by two by singers with low-pitched voices, whilst up like ploughing oxen, and performed of a spoken choir. The Parents are hitched also take on the role of narrator in the form represented by a small brass band; they games that ensue. has settled in the farmhouse and leads the and not at all unnatural. A beautiful feline something which appears very obvious Their friends, the Animals, are able to talk, land, like slender poppies on a dunghill. and Marinette, grow out of this patch of on an infertile soil. The heroines, Delphine In performance, the farm animals are of of mist, tales and Celtic gods. Chat Perché influenced by Marcel Aymé’s by the Jura region of France. It is also mysterious and timeless landscape inspired dance. story told in music, spoken text, singing and individual disciplines to develop a common artists who have used features from their this end, it has been created by a team of between different arts disciplines. To contemporary by crossing the barriers The production aims to be accessible and Chat perché , set in the same region, a place is a rural opera, set in a [email protected] www.operadeparis.fr OPÉRA NATIONAL DE PARIS Les

Contes du

25 AMAZE ME Co-production between Festival d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence, Théâtre du Jeu de Paume and Opéra de Dijon THE CHILD AND THE SPELLS L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILÈGES

A CHAMBER OPERA ABOUT THE ENCOUNTER OF A DESTRUCTIVE CHILD WITH A VERY SPECIAL KIND OF MAGIC WHICH LEADS HIM TO SEE THE ERRORS OF HIS BEHAVIOUR.

Composer: Set Designer: Music: Maurice Ravel Damien Caille-Perret Four-hand piano, cello, flute Librettist: Costumes: Running time: Colette Anne Autran 50 minutes Conductor: Lighting: Sung in: Didier Puntos Philippe Berthomé French Stage Director: Cast: Year of premiere: Arnaud Meunier 8 young singers 2012

26 RESEO 2013 Musique of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. singers from the Académie européenne de environment and how he must change. learn how his blind cruelty has affected his of events helps the child-executioner to with him. This disturbing and magical turn comes back to life and starts to remonstrate of the objects he broke, or animals he killed, suddenly enters the scene: one by one, each comes to hand. It’s at this point that magic seen taking his anger out on everything that Sent to his room by his mother, a child is This production features 8 young can become possible. another world where such magical events influenced by Moroccan culture to suggest The style of the performance is playful, [email protected] www.festival-aix.com D'AIX-EN-PROVENCE FESTIVAL D'ART LYRIQUE

27 AMAZE ME Co-production between Cité de la musique and Opéra 3 DIDO AND AENEAS DIDON ET ENÉE

A FUN AND INVENTIVE TEN-MINUTE OPERA BASED ON CLASSICAL LEGEND, USED AS A SPRINGBOARD TO INTRODUCE YOUNG AUDIENCES TO THE MUSIC OF ENGLISH COMPOSERS, SPANNING HANDEL TO THE BEATLES.

Composer: Sound Lighting: Sung in: Henry Purcell Technical team from Salle Pleyel English and French Librettist: Running time: Year of premiere: Nahum Tate 10 minutes 2012 Stage Director: (within framework of one hour Edouard Signolet concert)

28 RESEO 2013 an hour-long concert introducing young framing device for opera Dido and Aeneas was used as a last time in her servant, and tragedy looms. the Gods. After he leaves, Dido confides one impression he is complying with a decree of misled into abandoning Dido under the influence of this enchantment, Aeneas is to achieve his destiny. Acting under the making him believe he must leave Carthage a spell on Dido’s would-be bridegroom, loves. But a renowned female magician casts decides to go ahead and marry the man she advice of her servant Belinda, she finally not reveal this secret to her people. On the with Aeneas, the hero of Troy, but dares Dido, Queen of Carthage, falls in love This ten-minute version of Purcell’s Good Good Morning England , sized version covering the work's key from the 18 audiences to composers of English music of of works, spanning Handel to the Beatles. comedians perform extracts from a variety a concert in which orchestra, singers and musical themes and is performed prior to th to 20 [email protected] www.citedelamusique.fr CITÉ DE LA MUSIQUE th century. It is a pocket-

29 AMAZE ME Co-production between Teatro Sociale di Como (As.Li.Co.), Opéra Royal de Wallonie and de Madrid DON'T CRY WOLF! LUPUS IN FABULA

NIGHT, AND A FULL MOON IS SHINING, BUT ONE VERY UNUSUAL WOLF IS ABOUT TO START A STORY WITH AN UNUSUALLY HAPPY ENDING, IN A BID TO KEEP HUNTERS (AND INTOLERANCE) AT BAY.

Composer: Scenographer/Costumes: Music: Raffaele Sargenti Sandrine Clark Full orchestra Librettist: Choreographer: Running time: Andrea Avantaggiato Isabelle Lamouline 1 hour 10 minutes Conductor: Light: Sung in: Carlos Chamorro Christian Halkin Italian, French and Spanish Stage Director: Cast: Year of premiere: Caroline Leboutte 7 professional singers 2010

30 RESEO 2013 he lets the children who live either side of insists he finish his story. The wolf explains understands the wolf is not dangerous and wants to kill the wolf, but his daughter are terrified bywhat they find. Mr Verdic when the girl’s parents return home they pretending he has a rare throat disease, but help howling as he relates his story. He tries it is a night with a full moon and he cannot who live divided by a wall. Unfortunately, two communities, the Sakili and the Taburi, prejudice and intolerance, a story about the daughter a story, his own story, about for one night. As a good nanny, he tells after the daughter of Mr and Mrs Verdic himself as Ausilia, a nanny who will look to intercede. The moon helps him disguise his persecution, so he appeals to the moon longs to redeem his good name and stop tries once again to escape his hunters. He night, with a full moon shining, the wolf but also persecuted by local hunters. One wolf who is a traveller and storyteller, Lupus in fabula is the story of a very special opera opera for young audiences. In its original Competition for production through a European her full-time nanny. child asks if Ausilia the Wolf can become each other. And all ends well, because the show them they should not be afraid of the wall play together secretly in a bid to leading leading up the Berlin Wall. beginning with the Great Wall of China, included study of famous walls in history, opera. The education programme also introduce them to key concepts about educational programme at school to help children in the audience also followed an from the stalls, acting as a Chorus. The format, the audience sang short arias This is a opera,participatory selected Opera J [email protected] www.aslico.org AS.LI.CO. to compose a new

31 AMAZE ME Compagnie Minute Papillon DO RE MI FLEA SO LA TI DO GRAT’ MOI LA PUCE QUE J’AI DANS L’DO

A SHOW THAT WILL APPEAL TO THE VERY YOUNG AT HEART, RELATING TO EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES EXPERIENCED THE WORLD OVER BY YOUNG PEOPLE, TOLD BY THREE FANTASTICAL COMPERES ECHOING THE CHARACTERS IN A MIRÓ PAINTING.

Composer: Scenographer/Costumes: Instrument: Mozart, Ravel, Bizet, Elgar, Vivaldi, Anne Bothuon Accordion Brahms, Offenbach, Humperdinck, Choreographer: Running time: Wagner.New music for accordion: Barbara Falco 40 minutes Guillaume Lainé Light: Sung in: Conductor: Thomas Chrétien German, French, English and Latin Violaine Fournier Cast: Year of premiere: Stage Director: 2 professional lyrical singers 2011 Margot Dutilleul and 1 musician

32 RESEO 2013 particular particular relevance to the very young, all cultures and languages. But it is of spoken text, so it is easily translated into music and pictures, and it unfolds without to bed. It is a voyage of discovery told in playing, cuddling, washing and going will recognise: getting up, dressing, eating, matters which children the world over They tell amusing stories about daily have stepped out of a painting by Miró. entertained by three comperes who might lyrical repertoire. The audience are journey of discovery into an eclectic Grat’ moi la Puce que j’ai dans l’do is a enjoy it, whether they are two or 102. possible that all who feel young at heart will from 18 months upwards, although it’s [email protected] www.cie-minutepapillon.com COMPAGNIE MINUTE PAPILLON

33 AMAZE ME Co-production between Opéra de Lyon and Lyon's Théâtre Nouvelle Génération/CDN DOUCE AND BLUEBEARD DOUCE ET BARBE-BLEUE

PERRAULT’S CLASSIC FAIRY TALE ‘BLUEBEARD’ RE-WORKED INTO AN OPERA FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE QUALITIES OF A SURREAL AND MACABRE DREAM.

Composer: Costumes: Music: Isabelle Aboulker Sonia Bosc Instrumental ensemble of 6 musicians: Librettist: Light: 1 clarinet, 1 trumpet, 1 percussion, 1 Christian Eymery Christophe Chaupin piano, 1 violin, 1 cello (adaptation of Charles Perrault’s Bluebeard (voice offstage): Running time: story Bluebeard) Philippe Morier Genoud 1 hour Conductor: Cast: Sung in: Karine Locatelli Soloist (baritone); 5 – 6 musicians; French Stage Director: dancers; 3 circus artists; Maîtrise de Year of premiere: Jean-Romain Vesperini l’Opéra de Lyon 2011

34 RESEO 2013 is desperately sad. Shortly after the couple come. When the wedding guests leave, she dreams by voices warning her of danger to but all is not well. She is disturbed in her He choses Douce, the youngest daughter, mother his wish to marry one of them. of his neighbours and confides in their to look at. He covets the daughters of one strange facial hair makes him repellant door. Bluebeard is a very rich man, but his discovers a terrible secret behind a locked frisson to the story of a young bride who from the traditional ending to give an extra has a surprising twist in its tail. It departs fairy story Isabelle Aboulker’s adaptation of the classic Bluebeard by Charles Perrault move into the castle, Bluebeard announces her brothers can save her. must die. Douce, anxious to escape, hopes her fate. Bluebeard returns and tells her she the most macabre discovery, one that seals curiosity, Douce opens the door and makes orders her to never open. Overwhelmed by Douce with a key to a small room which he he is going on a journey. He entrusts [email protected] www.opera-lyon.com OPÉRA DE LYON

35 AMAZE ME Scottish Opera THE ELEPHANT ANGEL

SET DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THIS OPERA IS BASED ON A TRUE STORY ABOUT A RESCUE MISSION WITH A DIFFERENCE, SPEARHEADED BY A VERY ENTERPRISING LADY ZOOKEEPER.

Composer/Conductor: Vision Mechanics (Edinburgh) Music: Gareth Williams Light: Percussion, piano, harp, clarinet, flute/ Librettist: David Shea piccolo, double bass and French horn Bernard MacLaverty Cast: Running time: Stage Director: 2 principal roles (soprano & baritone), 50 minutes Lissa Lorenzo 5 supporting roles (young voices– Sung in: Scenographer: in the original, members of Scottish English Ali Maclaurin Opera’s Connect youth company– Year of premiere: Costumes: 2 sopranos, 2 baritones, 1 tenor); 2012 Catherine Deverell a chorus of primary school children, Elephant costume/model designed by 1 physical theatre performer (elephant)

36 RESEO 2013 Opera’s youth company, and another group and young singers from appearing alongside principal singers local schoolchildren taking part: one group in twelve venues on tour, with groups of the balance. with war, unaware that their lives hang in make sense of the humans’ preoccupation the zoo, a polar bear, a tiger and a lion try to her from the bombing. Meanwhile, back at baby elephant home with her and protect enlist the help of local children to take the When she hears the news, she decides to on a new charge, Sheila the baby elephant. Lady zookeeper Miss Austen has just taken local community following a bombing raid. avoid causing panic if they escape into the animals in the zoo are to be destroyed, to aircraft. The City Council decrees that the industry, the city is a key target for enemy War. Home to the Allied shipbuilding Northern Ireland, during the Second World The Elephant Angel The original production was staged is set in Belfast, Connect , Scottish was staged during Scottish Opera’s 50 340 playing supporting roles. The tour took part in performances, with a further programme. In total, over 300 children Determined to Succeed in line with the Scottish Government’s developed as part of the project design management roles. The latter element was helping in marketing, press and stage anniversary anniversary year. [email protected] www.scottishopera.org.uk SCOTTISH OPERA cross-curricular

th

37 AMAZE ME Associazione Musicale Tito Gobbi THE ELIXIR OF LOVE L’ELISIR D’AMORE

AN IMPRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROJECT WHICH TURNS CLASSROOMS INTO ‘OPERATIC LABORATORIES’ AND DRAWS TOGETHER SCHOOLCHILDREN AND YOUNG SINGERS AT THE START OF THEIR CAREERS.

Composer: Costumes: Music: Gaetano Donizetti Latina Lirica from Piano Librettist: Franca Pompili Sung in: Felice Romani Light: Italian Conductor/Pianist: Stefano Bardelli Year of premiere: Stefano Giannini Cast: 2012 Stage Director: Two casts of 12 young professional Luca Canonici singers; 1 actress; 6 groups of up to Scenographer: 9 children (aged 5 – 13) in six different Giuseppe Izzo scenes of the opera

38 RESEO 2013 an abridged version of Donizetti’s opera, own schools, prior to performances of laboratories' with the children in their further activities centred around 'operatic well as singing in the chorus. There are of the scenography and costumes, as making opera happen, creating elements pupils are offered 'hands-on' experience in techniques and dramaturgy, whilst their and workshops to learn more about vocal young singers at the start of their careers. performance opportunities for talented and parents. It also provides debut collaboration with young peoples’ teachers new audiences for the art form through Magia dell’ Opera an ongoing programme of work titled of Donizetti’s This project centres around an adaptation Teachers are invited to attend seminars L’elisir d’amore, ® aimed at developing part part of families. A total of 455 teachers and inception, reaching an audience of 4015 The project met with great success at its actress who plays the role of the Narrator. alongside professional singers and an educational educational activities offered. 5499 children took part in the variety of [email protected] www.associazionetitogobbi.com MUSICALE TITO GOBBI ASSOCIAZIONE

39 AMAZE ME Co-production between Jeune Opéra Compagnie and Théâtre de L’Heure Bleue, La Chaux-de-Fonds GULLIVER, RETURN TO LILLIPUT GULLIVER, LILLIPUT ALLER-RETOUR

AN 18TH CENTURY MASTERPIECE BROUGHT UP TO DATE IN A PARADOXICAL AND PLAYFUL INTERPRETATION AIMED AT AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES.

Composer: Véronique Seymat (soprano, baritone) François Cattin Sound: Music: Librettist: Fabian Schild String orchestra and accordion Yves Sarda Light: Running time: Conductor: Alain Kilar 1 hour 15 minutes Nicolas Farine Cast: Sung in: Stage Director/Scenographer: 40-strong children’s choir, 5 child French Stephan Grögler soloists and 1 choir of 12 adolescents; Year of premiere: Costumes: 2 professional singers 2009

40 RESEO 2013 a kind of everyman who arrives in a place revealing a man travelling through time, this story can also be read in another way, and he eventually escapes the country. But down. Jealous courtiers plot to topple him, King when he saves his palace from burning the pint-sized inhabitants, particularly its the ‘man-mountain’ captures the hearts of the Southern seas. Shipwrecked on Lilliput, sail as a surgeon on board a ship travelling point for the opera’s creators. Gulliver sets society of Swift’s day. This was the starting held up to reflect in satirical fashion the read by children, but instead was a mirror The original story was not intended to be focuses on events in the land of Lilliput. inspiration for this stage adaptation which Swift’s classic tale Gulliver’s Travels is the but Gulliver remains standing. Those who transgresses. The King’s palace is ruined, he doesn’t recognise. He triumphs, he abound. Paradox and playful transformations also the ones who want him to disappear. carry him on their shoulders in arevictory [email protected] www.jeuneopera.ch JEUNE OPÉRA COMPAGNIE

41 AMAZE ME Glyndebourne IMAGO

WHAT IF YOU COULD LIVE A SECOND LIFE, LOOK THE WAY YOU WANT TO LOOK, AND BE WHOEVER YOU WANTED TO BE? A NEW COMMUNITY OPERA FOR THE DIGITAL AGE.

Composer: Video Designer: soloists and a large chorus from the Orlando Gough Finn Ross local community Librettist: Light: Music: Stephen Plaice Paul Pyant The Aurora Orchestra Conductor: Movement Director: Running time: Nicholas Collon Chris Tudor 2 hours 10 minutes Director: Chorus Master: Sung in: Susannah Waters Lee Reynolds English Assistant Director: Music Preparation: Year of premiere: Fiona Dunn Nick Bosworth 2013 Designer: Cast: Es Devlin Bronia Housman Six professional singers, amateur

42 RESEO 2013 want to experience. Andy places the Imago device, they can simulate everything they release into a virtual world. Through this Imago of themselves, which they can then which will enable his patients to create an in his latest therapeutic tool – a system hospital’s occupational therapist, wheels imagination still roams free. Andy, the where Elizabeth lies bed-bound, but her starts in a geriatric ward of a care-home love between people of all ages. The opera reality and the bonds of friendship and opera, explores the possibilities of cyber- Imago , a new intergenerational community danger – and of love. world where dreams come true, a world of disappears only to reappear in a virtual an Imago of her younger self, Lisette. Lisette glasses on Elizabeth’s head and she creates [email protected] www.glyndebourne.com GLYNDEBOURNE

43 AMAZE ME Co-production between Opéra de Lille, Zonzo Compagnie, De Werf, Rataplan, Muziektheater Transparant, Big Bang– European Music Festival for Young Audiences and Act Brücken LISTEN TO THE SILENCE– A JOURNEY WITH JOHN CAGE UN VOYAGE AVEC JOHN CAGE

A NOVEL APPROACH TO EXPLORING THE WORKS OF COMPOSER JOHN CAGE, TAKING YOUNG AUDIENCES ON A MEMORABLE AND UNUSUAL JOURNEY THROUGH SOUND.

Composer: Cast: Sung in: John Cage 1 pianist; 1 comedian French and Dutch Stage Director/Designer: Music: Year of premiere: Wouter Van Looy Piano, recorded music 2011 Stage Director/Video: Running time: Letizia Renzini 55 minutes

44 RESEO 2013 experience for all ages to enjoy. The by presenting a magical and accessible audiences the importance of sound to a musical laboratory. transformation, moving from a concert hall settings succeed one another in quick and ‘ such as ‘ his approach to music through questions into the heart of Cage’s work, examining pianist and an actor lead the audience and exploring contemporary music. A and a novel approach to experiencing It is both an ode to John Cage and his work, adventurous voyage of musical discovery. in which the audience takes part in an Listen to the Silence The objective was to reveal to young Can music arise by chance?’ When When do sounds become music?’ is an interactive concert . Different

Music Awards (YAMA). The original Production at the 2012 Young Audience production won an award for Best the Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon. production was staged in October 2011 at [email protected] www.opera-lille.fr OPÉRA DE LILLE

45 AMAZE ME Gran Teatre Del Liceu THE LITTLE MAGIC FLUTE LA PETITA FLAUTA MÀGICA

MOZART’S MOST POPULAR OPERA AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE; A ‘MASH-UP’ OF THE ORIGINAL FABULOUS CHARACTERS WHO SLIP IN AND OUT OF THEIR ROLES TO RE-TELL A STORY OF MAGICAL TRANSFORMATION.

Composer: Light: wind machines An adaptation by José Menor of Albert Faura Running Time: Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte Cast: 60 minutes Librettist: 6 professional singers: Sung in: Els Comediants Pagageno (baritone), Pamina Catalan (original) Conductor: (soprano), Tamino (tenor), also translated into Spanish José Menor Monostatos (tenor), Sarastro (bass) (There is the possibility of Stage Director: and Papagena-Queen of the Night translation into other languages) Joan Font (soprano) Year of premiere: Scenographer/Costumes: Instruments: 2001 (Second revival: 2013) Joan Guillén 1 piano, 1 flute, celesta, piccolo,

46 RESEO 2013 Chorus Chorus of Priests. elements originally performed by the Sarastro incorporates some of the story entrusted to The Three Spirits. Meanwhile, some aspects of the stage action originally Papagena incorporates in to her scenes on the duties of The Three Ladies, whilst The Queen of the Night, for example, takes characters found in Mozart’s original opera. on extra functions carried out by different in the story. In brief, each character takes to the audience all the comings and goings role of narrator and protagonist, explaining the focus of the action. He takes on a dual Here, the bird-catcher Papageno becomes adaptation of Mozart’s best-known opera. La petita Flauta Màgica

is a special work in 2013 thanks to the overwhelming was firstperformed over ten years ago. response it received from audiences when it The Liceu was encouraged to revive this [email protected] www.liceubarcelona.cat GRAN TEATRE DEL LICEU

47 AMAZE ME De Nederlandse Opera/Het Nationale Ballet LITTLE RING RINGETJE

A LIVELY RE-INTERPRETATION OF WAGNER’S ‘RING CYCLE’, SHRUNK TO 100 MINUTES AND WITH TWO NEW PROTAGONISTS, BERT AND RITA, WHO LOSE THEIR WAY ON A SCOUT TRIP AND END UP IN AN ENCHANTED AND DANGEROUS FOREST.

Composer: Lotte de Beer Cast: Adaptation of Wagner’s Ring Conductor: 2 actors, 9 soloists, children’s choir by Jonathan Dove, Hans Leenders (orchestra); Music: Claudia Rumondor Lorenzo Papolo (choir) Full orchestra Librettist: Stage Director: Running time: Lotte de Beeer 1 hour 40 minutes Jonathan Dove Scenography/Costumes: Sung in: Claudia Rumondor Marouscha Levy Dutch Arent-Jan Linde Light: Year of premiere: Anne Lamsvet Wijnand van der Horst 2011

48 RESEO 2013 the situation – and they can only do that bus and go home, but first they must rescue Rita want to find their way back to the scout which he will take over the world. Bert and plans to make it into a magic ring with special gold from the Rhinemaidens and the dwarf Alberich has stolen some very becomes apparent that danger is imminent: other extraordinary creatures. It soon inhabited by giants, gods, dwarfs, and many realm of the Nibelungs, an enchanted forest another one entirely, taking them into the start out on one journey, and end up on wrong! Bert and Rita are two scouts who centred on a scouting trip that goes very 100 minutes of action-packed adventure, Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle is reduced to just the chief god Wotan and his daughter by following in the footsteps of Siegfried, on stage as part of the children’s choir. dragons to princesses, or they can appear to a cast of full of fantastical being, from They can enjoy it as spectators thanks original work. Brünhilde, all characters from Wagner’s The production is written for children. [email protected] www.dno.nl NATIONALE BALLET DE NEDERLANDSE OPERA/HET

49 AMAZE ME The Moscow State Opera and Ballet Theatre for Children and Young Audiences named after Natalia Sats THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES

A RITES-OF-PASSAGE STORY THAT BLENDS ALL THE THEATRICALITY OF ITALIAN COMEDY WITH POIGNANT REFLECTIONS ON A GROWN-UP WORLD, WHERE BELIEF IN THE MAGIC OF MIRACLES HAS BEEN LOST.

Composer: Scenographer/Costumes: Cast: Sergey Prokofiev Valentina Ostankovich 45 professional singers Librettist: Philipp Vinogradov Music: Sergey Prokofiev Sound: Full Orchestra (based on a fairy tale by Carlo Gozzi) Andrey Kremenchugskiy Running Time: Music Director & Production Vitaliy Azarov 3 hours Conductor: Ekaterina Alekseeva Sung in: Eugeny Brazhnik Elena Panova Russian Conductor: Light: Year of premiere: Konstantin Khvatynets Eugeny Ganzburg 2011 Stage Director: Chief Concertmaster: Georgiy Isaakyan Tatiana Vasnetsova

50 RESEO 2013 behind-the-scenes, attempting to thwart all particularly when evil forces are at work end. But the best laid plans can go wrong, to organise a grand party to achieve that Doctor, and jester Truffaldino is summoned of laughter is the cure prescribed by the Prince Tartalia who has fallen sick. A dose Prokofiev’s opera tells the story of young the oranges, but fails to heed the warning through a desert. The Prince opens two of retrieve the oranges, and begin a long trek the help of the great magician Tchelio. They Prince and Truffaldino risk their lives with oranges are fraught with danger, but the witch Creonte. Any attempts to take the for three oranges’, Prince and he becomes obsessed by a hands of the Court guests. She curses the and she is furious at her humiliation at the laughing. It is Fata Morgana in disguise, everyone, including the Prince, bursts out uninvited guest, a strange, old woman, and Truffaldino accidentally knocks down an Fata Morgana. the throne, aided and abetted by the witch and Prime Minister Leandro want to usurp attempts to cure the Prince. Princess Clarice The night the party takes place, kept in the palace of the ‘love ‘love childlike innocence comes up against the heart, it is a rite-of-passage story in which uproariously funny Italian comedy’. Artistic Director, describes the opera as powers will trump those of the evil witch... concludes, everyone waits to see if Tchelio’s Ninette turning her into a rat. As the opera marriage. But Fata Morgana casts a spell on he immediately falls in love and proposes discovers the Princess Ninette, with whom immediately. He opens the third orange and that whatever lives inside must have water happen. cause to celebrate – and that miracles do suggests that nostalgia for lost beliefs is a can sometimes seem naïve. The opera hardships of an adult world where miracles Georgiy Georgiy Isaakyan, the company’s [email protected] www.teatr-sats.ru AFTER NATALIA SATS AND YOUNG AUDIENCES NAMED BALLET THEATRE FOR CHILDREN THE MOSCOW STATE OPERA AND

At its ‘an

51 AMAZE ME Landestheater Linz LYNX, THE LYNX LYNX, DER LUCHS

FRIENDSHIP IS AT THE HEART OF THIS PIECE, WHICH TAKES ITS YOUNG AUDIENCE STRAIGHT BACK TO MEDIEVAL TIMES WHERE A TYRANT DUKE IS CONFRONTED WITH AN ADVENTUROUS YOUNG HUNTER CALLED BRIGID– AND HER TWO NEW FRIENDS FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

Composer: Conductor: Sung in: Helmut Schmidinger Marc Reibel German Librettist: Cast: Year of premiere: Elisabeth Vera Rathenböck 6 professional artists 2013 Stage Director: Music: Tanja Weidner Cello, clarinet, percussion Costumes: Running time: Stefan Bleidorn 50 minutes

52 RESEO 2013 Duke... of their dilemma is to deliver Lynx to the Marie and Florian. The only way to get out own life, but also that of her new friends against leaving the town, Brigid risks her Lynx lives. By resisting Tassilo’s injunction go into the forest where her good friend young hunter, dares to leave the town and near starvation. Only Brigid, a courageous iron fist, reducing the town’s inhabitants to to Duke Tassilo. The Duke rules with an to a town occupied by soldiers belonging themselves transported back to the past, mysterious bow and arrow, they discover ‘Lynx’. and arrow inside, inscribed with the word One day, they find an oldbox with abow past. Marie and Florian are very bored. develops following a journey into the This is a story about friendship which Their curiosity is aroused; firing the theatre for children and young adults put commissioning policy which will see music opera house. It marks the start of a new staged for young audiences at the new Linz foyer. including performances in its glass-fronted at the heart of the Opera's programming, Lynx, der Luchs Landestheater-Linz.at Musiktheaterpaedagogik@ www.landestheater-linz.at LANDESTHEATER LINZ is the first production

53 AMAZE ME Holland Opera THE MAGIC PIANO

AN INTRIGUING ABOUT A LITTLE BOY’S TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CONTROLLING FATHER, A MUTE BUTLER AND A VERY UNUSUAL PIANO.

Composer: Ineke Duivenoorde vibraphone, marimba and various Toek Numan Sound: small instruments Librettist: Arne Bock Running time: Joke Hoolboom Light: 1 hour Stage Director: Maarten Warmerdam Sung in: Arlon Luijten Cast: Dutch (translation into English, Scenographer: 2 professional singers (baritone and German or French possible) Douwe Hibma tenor) and 1 professional percussionist Year of premiere: Costumes: Music: 2013 Sophie Ketting Piano with Yamaha pianodisc,

54 RESEO 2013 and he rebels. Luckily, the butler is a rather by heart, Otto decides enough is enough he has to learn 10 complete compositions has disappeared. The day his father insists to accept the absence of his mother who a gull who lives in a clock and helps Otto who doesn’t speak but plays with Otto, and is lightened up by the presence of a butler, insane with such demands. The situation piano completely. But Otto is nearly driven if he achieves his goal and controls the convinced that his son will only be happy on his head. He is being cruel to be kind, sitting at the piano bolt upright with a book end makes him practise for hours on end, to become a famous pianist and to that has great plans for him. He intends Otto normal little boy, but his father Theofiel dependency on an adult. Otto is a very parental control, and a child’s feeling of difficulties involved in overcoming between a father and son, particularly the family audiences, tracing the relationship The Magic Piano is a new chamber opera for is actually played by the father and it is in humour. The non-speaking butler James Keaton, and other moments of absurd inspired by the silent movies of Buster of comic relief through slapstick scenes serious, the production offers up moments magic piano to help him break free. remarkable character and there is also the generation generation of opera-lovers. being created by Holland Opera for a new is the latest in a repertoire of new works express his love for his son. these scenes he finally finds it possible to Whilst the opera’s main themes are [email protected] www.hollandopera.nl HOLLAND OPERA The Magic Piano

55 AMAZE ME Malta Association for Contemporary Music MALTESE FOLK TALES

FIVE MALTESE FOLK TALES BROUGHT VIVIDLY TO LIFE IN AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE WITH A VERY SPECIAL CAST MADE UP OF ‘DIGITAL’ PUPPETS, A STORYTELLER AND A MUSICIAN.

Composer/Conductor: Musicians: Running time: Ruben Zahra 1 pianist 30 minutes Librettist: Instruments: Year of premiere: Trevor Zahra 1 grand piano 2005 Cast: Language: 1 actor & 1 technician to work The production has been presented in animations Maltese, English and Italian.

56 RESEO 2013 the actor narrates the folk tales, a video motifs, filigree andtraditional lace. While perforations inspired by Maltese baroque are highly ornamented with decorative shadow puppetry. The ‘digital puppets’ have been developed to reflect the style of of etudes for piano solo. The animations contemporary in style, made up of a cycle to the stories. Ruben Zahra’s music is by a live score that acts as a soundtrack of a traditional storyteller accompanied five Maltese folk tales, presented in the style animation. At its core lies a collection of puppetry, contemporary music and digital together traditional folk tales, shadow interdisciplinary production which brings Maltese Folk Tales

is a captivating, performance performance and the characters of the sequence is projected as a backdrop to the artists. folk tales illustrated by ten different Maltese the production, featuring a collection of ten and English. The publication is based on publication in bilingual setting: Maltese This project was also released as a book-CD stories come to life on the screen. [email protected] www.maltacontemporarymusic.org CONTEMPORARY MUSIC MALTA ASSOCIATION FOR

57 AMAZE ME Junge Oper Stuttgart MOMO

AN ADAPTATION FOR THE STAGE OF MICHAEL ENDE’S POPULAR FAIRY TALE ABOUT A VERY UNUSUAL GIRL CALLED MOMO WHO BATTLES WITH SINISTER FORCES TO FREE STOLEN TIME.

Composer: Video: trombone, percussion, accordion Matthias Heep Manuela Hartel Running time: Librettist: Dramaturg: between 1 hour 30 minutes Barbara Tacchini Martina Stütz and 2 hours Conductor: Cast: Sung in: Till Drömann 9 professional singers; German Stage Director: children's chorus of 30 (Momo’s Year of premiere: Barbara Tacchini friends); Chorus of 35 adults (Men and 2013 Scenographer: Women in Grey); 1 dancer (Bibigirl) Uta Materne Instruments: Costumes: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, Mascha Schubert flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet,

58 RESEO 2013 Composer Matthias Heep translates his turtle Cassiopeia to bring Momo to his lonlier and lonlier. Meanwhile, Hora sends stealing their time and making Momo contract with their Timesavings Bank, and making everyone enter into a sinister Men in Grey who are taking over the city friendship comes under threat from the name of Gigi Fremdenführer, but their Beppo Strassenkehrer and a Guide by the Momo befriends a Road Sweeper called they laugh, they reconcile and they live. lives of the people who visit her; they play, suddenly she is there, transforming the knows where she comes from and yet is also something of a mystery. Nobody through its central character Momo. She exploring the mysteries of life and time an intriguing production for all ages, a piece of poetic music theatre. It is Michael Ende’s famous fairy tale into very very real longing to find meaning in today’s liberate the time stolen by the Men in Grey. life. With Hora’s help, Momo manages to her beginning and her end, the mystery of world, allowing her to listen to the music of the better. takes inner courage to change one’s life for the imagination, and, as Momo discovers, it burnout, the superficial can take over from more and more people fightwith stress and world. In a fast-paced environment, where This is a contemporary story about the [email protected] www.oper-stuttgart.de/jungeoper JUNGE OPER STUTTGART

59 AMAZE ME Teatro de la Zarzuela THE MOORISH QUEEN LA REINA MORA

A DELIGHTFUL COMEDY, FULL OF ANDALUCIAN COLOUR, CENTRING AROUND A LIVELY WORKING CLASS DISTRICT WHERE THE LOCAL DON JUAN PLAYS COURT TO A YOUNG GIRL WITH SOME RATHER UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES.

Composer: Choreographer: Running time: José Serrano Nuria Castejón 1 hour 10 minutes Librettist: Costumes: Sung in: Serafín Jesús Ruiz Spanish Joaquin Alvarez Quintero Costume Assistant: Year of premiere: Conductor: Matilde Falcinelli 1903 José María Moreno Light: Stage Director: David Hortelano Jesús Castejón Cast: Assistant Director: 16 professional singers; Ricardo Campelo 10 dancers Scenographer: Music: Ricardo Sanchez-Cuerda Full orchestra

60 RESEO 2013 those that can be found in many folk tales, comic sketch. The characters conform to with a traditional Andalucian sainete, or ends up wooing a cockatoo. from prison, and the would-be Casanova chance. But it is the day Esteban is released because Cotufa has told her he is in with a move on Coral, preparing to serenade her, prison. Meanwhile, Don Nuez makes his hidden away whilst her fiancé Estaban is in unaware of is that Coral has decided to stay to seduce Coral. What the neighbours are Juan – Don Nuez – scents a rival and plans assume is the girl’s lover. The local Don goings of a man called Cotufa whom they curious and wonder over the comings-and- The Enchanted House. The neighbours are beautiful young girl, lives as a recluse in class district of Seville where Coral, a The Moorish Queen This is a production which shares a lot is set in a working audience. vivacity that makes it accessible for a young young girl. The plot and music also has a and ridiculous Don Juan, or the innocent or comedy dramas, such as the boastful [email protected] www.teatrodelazarzuela.mcu.es TEATRO DE LA ZARZUELA

61 AMAZE ME Junge Staatsoper Berlin MOSCOW CHERYOMUSHKI MOSKAU TSCHERJOMUSCHKI

TOPICAL THEMES OF MIGRATION AND URBAN DYSTOPIA FEATURE IN A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT FEATURING RUSSIAN AND GERMAN TEENAGERS ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL OPERA ARTISTS AND STAGE TECHNICIANS.

Composer: Cast: Light: Dmitri Shostakovich 23 teenagers Irene Selka (arr. Ralf Böhme) aged between 14 – 21 Running time: Librettist: Orchestra: 2 hours Vladimir Mass Full orchestra Sung in: Mikhail Chervinsky Arrangement: German Conductor: flute, clarinet (B flat, A), Year of premiere: Ursula Stigloher saxophone (tenor), trumpet, 2012 Stage Director: 2 cornets (F), trombone, tuba, Neco Çelik violin, double bass, drum set Scenographer/Costumes: Sound: Stephan von Wedel Johannes Seibt

62 RESEO 2013 had had recently arrived in Berlin to bring their Staatsoper involved young Russians who officials. bureaucratic administrators to corrupt meet with a range of obstacles, from over- city centre. Along the way, the migrants called Cheryomushki, away from Moscow who are resettled in an overspill town 1950s and follows a group of young people between 14 and 21. The story is set in the company and a group of teenagers aged collaborative project between an opera modern major city lies at the heart of this Migration and its impact on life in a As part of the process, the Junge ideas. platform to the teenagers’ experiences and production. The overall aim was to give a also joined the choir and took roles in the experiences into the rehearsal process. They [email protected] www.staatsoper-berlin.de JUNGE STAATSOPER BERLIN

63 AMAZE ME GöteborgsOperan MY MOTHER IS A DRAGON MIN MAMMA ÄR EN DRAKE

AN ENCHANTING OPERA REMINISCENT OF A MUCH-LOVED CHILDREN’S STORYBOOK, ABOUT A LITTLE BOY WHO WAKES UP ONE MORNING TO FIND HIS MOTHER ISN’T AT ALL HER USUAL SELF...

Composer: Scenographer/Light: Running time: Thomas Lindahl Thorsten Dahn 55 minutes Librettist: Costumes: Sung in: Irena Kraus (based on a book Pija Lindenbaum Swedish by Pija Lindenbaum) Cast: Year of premiere: Conductor: 5 professional singers 2011 Per Larsson Instruments: Stage Director: Piano, bass, trombone and Mia Ringblom Hjertner various percussion

64 RESEO 2013 to spend the day with her son. Åke's mother decides not to go to work but that is how it turns out. That same morning, his mother will be fine in the morning. And grandmother's house and she promises that and can't help them at all. They go to Åke's doctor's surgery, she seems rather strange zoo and a park. But when they arrive at the take a journey through the city, passing a to take his mother to see the doctor. They than the other way around. Åke decides finds he must look after his mother,rather an intriguing reversal of roles, little Åke his mother transformed into a dragon. In boy who wakes up one morning to find An enchanting opera about a five-year-old

challanging challanging circumstances. together after the boy shows ingenuity in small boy and his mother are drawn closer with a serious undercurrent, showing how a eight years old, this is a fairytale-like opera, Created for audiences aged from five to [email protected] www.en.opera.se GÖTEBORGSOPERAN

65 AMAZE ME Opéra de Dijon OPERA OF THE MOON L’OPÉRA DE LA LUNE

A CONTEMPORARY OPERA– FAIRY TALE, CENTRING ON MICHEL MORIN, A SOLITARY LITTLE BOY, WHO DREAMS OF SPENDING HIS NIGHTS ON THE MOON.

Composer/Conductor: Stage Director: Music: Brice Pauset. Re-orchestration of Damien Caille-Perret Full orchestra extracts from Robert Schumann’s Assistant Stage Director: Running time: Kinderszenen and lieder by Robert Adrien Béal 1 hour 20 minutes Schubert, Karl Friedrich Zelter, Scenographer/Costumes: Sung in: Friedrich Heinrich Himmel and Céline Perrigon French and German Johann Friedrich Reichardt Light: Year of premiere: Libretto: Jérémie Papin 2012 Jacques Prévert and texts by Johann Cast: Wolfgang von Goethe, Ludwig Hölty, 3 singers, 2 actors Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (including 1 child) and chorus

66 RESEO 2013 the sky resembles a huge firework display. or seating. Each and every day, this world in without the formalities of curtains, boxes opera, better even than the Paris Opera, but the moon, so it resembles a scene from an star to star; no one tires working to decorate beautiful. Here, enchantment is found from moon, and findseverything there more machines. He looks skywards, towards the are drowned out by the noise of warlike place, where the songs of birds and children and understand him. The earth is a sad to pay him much attention, or even to try the people who look after him are too busy Morin has never known his parents, whilst dreams of its principal character. Michael journey of enchantment, inspired by the L’Opéra de la Lune takes its audience on a smiling down at him. Could they be his lost the moon, there is a boy and a girl who keep But most importantly of all, up there on performer. play, in addition to a silent role for child invented instruments for the orchestra to including the construction of specially emphasis in key aspects of its production, atmosphere of a fairy tale, one given special parents? An opera that conjures up the [email protected] www.opera-dijon.fr OPÉRA DE DIJON

67 AMAZE ME Malmö Opera/Operaverkstan in collaboration with Teater InSite, Malmö PS I WILL SOON BE HOME! PS JAG KOMMER SNART HEM!

AN ENGAGING, INTERACTIVE OPERA WHICH SEES THE AUDIENCE MOVE THROUGH THREE ROOMS,EACH WITH A DIFFERENT STORY TO BE TOLD, BUT ALL LINKED BY THE SEA AND THE INTRIGUING FIGURE OF A SHIPWRECKED NORDIC CAPTAIN.

Composer: Sound: Cast/Orchestra: Anna Einarsson Magnus Hultman 4 professional singers and 5 Librettist: Anna Einarsson professional musicians in the orchestra Maria Sundqvist Light: Instruments: Stage Director: Ilkka Häikiö Electronics, cello, electric guitar, double Ragna Weisteen Running time: bass, clarinet and saxophone Scenographer/Choreographer/ 45 minutes Year of premiere: Costumes: Sung in: 2012 Leif Persson Swedish

68 RESEO 2013 on the radio, whilst reading postcards Junior listening to the shipping forecast In the Nordic Room, the audience finds chief on a small island in the PacificOcean. of Big Charley, a nordic sailor who becomes Compass, story. It begins with a Prelude, titled that make different sounds. explore the rooms and interact with props members of the audience are encouraged to the Ocean Room together. Along the way, Nordic Room, before both groups arrive in Pacific Room,whilst the other starts in the groups. One group begins its journey in the rooms, with the audience divided into two waves. The unusual set consists of three opera set on two continents and the ocean PS I will soon be home! The opera’s libretto is based on a true in which two pilots tell the story is an interactive The shipwrecked in a storm and got washed sisters sing about their father who was the seven seas. In the Pacific Room, two her father has sent from a journey over waves. about his daughters and singing to the of wood on the misty sea, hallucinating Room, a shipwrecked man floats on a piece his nordic home. Meanwhile, in the Ocean ashore. He has now left them to go back to [email protected] www.malmoopera.se MALM Ö OPERA/OPERAVERKSTAN

69 AMAZE ME Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg PUSS IN BOOTS DER GESTIEFELTE KATER

TALKING HIS WAY OUT OF TROUBLE, AND INTO THE HEART OF THE ACTION, IS A WHIP-SHARP TOMCAT WITH MOST IMPRESSIVE FOOTWEAR IN THIS LIVELY RE-TELLING OF A CLASSIC FAIRYTALE.

Composer: Light: 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, Xavier Montsalvatge Franz-Xaver Schaffer 1 tuba, 1 harp, 1 celesta, 2 Librettist: Animation: percussionists, 8 first violins, Néstor Luján Gregor Stockmann 6 second violins, 5 violas, 4 cellos, (German translation: Dramaturg: 3 double basses Mechthild von Schoenebeck) Bernhard F. Loges Running time: Conductor: Cast: 60 minutes Patrick Francis Chestnut 5 professional singers: Sung in: Rainer Mühlbach The Tomcat (mezzo-soprano) German- original version in Spanish Stage Director: The Miller (tenor/baritone) Year of premiere: Svenja Tiedt The Princess (soprano) 2011 Scenographer: The King (baritone) Tatjana Ivschina The Ogre (bass) Choreographer: Orchestra: Amelie Jalowy 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 1 bassoon,

70 RESEO 2013 boots, he talks, and he's rather intelligent... is no ordinary tomcat, not at all. He wears life to the classic story of Xavier Montsalvatge's music brings new the comic protagonists. of humour to give individual harmonies, some dissonant Xavier Montsalvatge uses traditional young miller will let him live. château, a princess and a fortune, if only the starts speaking. He promises him a huge attempts to skin it, the tomcat suddenly than a worthless, little tomcat. When he whose youngest son inherits nothing more The story begins with the death of a miller, Puss in Boots sounds and lots character to

. This beyond. younger audiences from age six and opera the company has produced for Puss in Boots [email protected] www.rheinoper.de DÜSSELDORF DUISBURG DEUTSCHE OPER AM RHEIN

is the most successful

71 AMAZE ME Les Talens Lyriques ‘RAMEAU PROJECT’ PLATÉE & LES INDES GALANTES

A SCALED-DOWN OPERA, INSPIRED BY TWO WORKS BY RAMEAU, CONCEIVED AND STAGED BY SCHOOLCHILDREN IN COLLABORATION WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS.

Composer: Choreographer: Music: Jean-Phillippe Rameau Damien Dreux Professional musicians Librettist: (Compagnie Fêtes Galantes directed by 1 harpsichord, 1 cello and 1 violin Adaptation by Irène Cazes and Béatrice Massin) Running time: Clément Lebrun of original books Costumes: 30 minutes by Adrien-Joseph Le Valois d’Orville Les Talens Lyriques Year of premiere: (Platée) and by Louis Fuzelier Cast: 2012 (Les Indes galantes) 3 professional musicians; Conductor: 70 students, 45 in the orchestra and 25 Clément Lebrun as chorus and dancers

72 RESEO 2013 two previous productions by Les Talens works by Rameau. It developed out of scaled-down opera, based on these two and the fun really starts. Jupiter arrives in a chariot made of clouds he rejects her and she’s distraught. Then Cithéron. When she arrives at the marsh, be well. Unfortunately, Platée is in love with creature, so she will be appeased and all will Juno can’t possibly be jealous of such a Platée, who lives in a neighbouring swamp. fall in love with a ridiculous naïade called Juno. Cithéron proposes he pretends to to find a way of calming his jealouswife marshland near some willow trees, anxious has descended from the clouds to a and deceiving gods and goddesses. Jupiter by Rameau set in the world of scheming Platée Rameau Rameau Project and Les Indes galantes takes the form of a are two works production. Orchestral workshops, led adopted in the process of creating the new Scozzi. A multi-disciplinary approach was staged version of Lyriques: a concert version of Massin. company Fêtes Galantes, led by Béatrice 14. Partners on the project were the dance for young students aged between 11 and by a dancer were all part of the programme choral director and dance workshops led by musicians, chorus workshops led by a [email protected] www.lestalenslyriques.com LES TALENS LYRIQUES Les Indes galantes Platée

by Laura and a

73 AMAZE ME Welsh National Opera A REAL PRINCESS

AN ADAPTATION OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN’S FAIRY STORY ‘THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA’, SET IN A TOPSY-TURVY MUSEUM RUN BY STORY-TELLING CURATORS.

Composer: Cast: Running time: Helen Woods 1 soprano and 1 baritone 45 minutes Librettist/Stage Director: (professionals) Sung in: Sarah Argent Music: English Scenographer: Ensemble of 3 instruments- Year of premiere: Charlotte Neville bassoon, viola and percussion 2009

74 RESEO 2013 Opera’s youth and community programme. developed by WNO Max, Welsh National revealed – with the help a lumpy old pea. will she turn out to be a Real Princess? All is Phoebe and he can’t believe his luck...but failed. Then he meets the lovely Princess returns home, miserable that his search has travels across the world, but to no avail. He he has met so far has been quite right. He princess of his dreams, but no princess that has been searching high and low for the about a quest for love. Prince Frederick curators have a very curious story to tell Step into a topsy-turvy museum where the This small-scale touring opera was this production. Orchestra took part in the original tour of musicians from the WNO Chorus and children under the age of five. Singers and It is a magical and engaging opera for young [email protected] www.wno.org.uk WELSH NATIONAL OPERA

75 AMAZE ME Co-production between Ensemble Justiniana, Opéra national de Paris, Opéra Théâtre de Saint Etienne, Opéra national de Lorraine and Scène nationale de Besançon SIEGFRIED AND THE CURSED RING SIEGFRIED ET L’ANNEAU MAUDIT

A SCALED-DOWN ‘RING CYCLE’ WHICH LOSES NONE OF ITS POWER AND MAGIC IN A PRODUCTION THAT DEPLOYS A RANGE OF THEATRICAL DEVICES TO BRING TO LIFE WAGNER’S EXTRAORDINARY, SHAPESHIFTING UNIVERSE.

Composer/Librettist: Images: Running time: A scaled-down version of Mike Guermyet 1 hour 50 minutes Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen Cast: Sung in: Conductor: 9 professional singers; German Marius Stieghorst 2 professional comedians Year of premiere: Stage Director: Orchestra: 2013 Charlotte Nessi 16 instruments: 2 violins, 1 viola, Scenographer/Light: 1 cello, 1 bass, 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, Gérard Champlon 1 bassoon, 2 cornets, 1 trumpet, Costumes: 1 trombone, 1 tuba, 1 harp, Jérôme Kaplan percussion

76 RESEO 2013 The video is peppered with references on stilts and the ‘dwarves’ by small people. treatment– the ‘giants’ are played by actors the fiction and opts for a realistic initiation quest. The direction emphasizes experience of characters who are on an before the audience’s eyes, reflecting the this voyage into Wagner’s work. adventure, representing the main thread of suspense. Siegfried is the hero of the who enters into a chase full of plots and much-coveted ring, desired by everyone potions. Everything centres around the characters, as well its traps, magic and love giants, dwarves, dragons and other fantastic wonders created by Wagner, including the the original work by retaining the world of respects the magic, and poetry depth of the major masterpieces of Western art. It aims to introduce all audiences to one of it before, in a pared-down version that Wagner’s The setting transforms constantly Ring Cycle as you’ve never seen by the arrangement students of the wanders with the audience by his side. a timeless No Man’s Land where Siegfried an imaginary world beyond the present, effects and stop-frame animation to present Expressionism, playing on black and white to Fritz Lang, Murnau and German music. direct relation between the stage and the behind tiers, positioning the audience in musicians play in the theatre itself from Wagner’s idea of an ‘invisible orchestra’, the de Musique de Paris. In keeping with Conservatoire National Supérieur The orchestral reduction was done [email protected] www.justiniana.com ENSEMBLE JUSTINIANA

77 AMAZE ME Co-production between Rahvusooper Estonia and the Capital of Culture Foundation Tallinn 2011 THE SMUGGLED LOVE ARMASTUS SALAKAUBAKS

AN OPERA WITH A DIFFERENCE, FOCUSING ON A PROCESS THAT DRAWS TOGETHER YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS TO CREATE A VERY CONTEMPORARY PIECE OF MUSIC THEATRE.

Composer: Musical Director: Orchestra: Works of different classic composers Priit Aimla Reduced orchestra with young are used in the production, including Scenograph/Costumes: instrumentalists extracts by Mozart, Bizet, Wagner, Both are created by young people Running time: Puccini and Tchaikovsky. themselves. For the premiere, guidance 45 minutes Librettist: was given by designer Jane Kaas Sung in: The story is created by the young Choreography: Estonian people themselves Lemme Saarma Year of premiere: Conductor: Light: 2011 Henri Christofer Aavik Rasmus Rembel (an 8th grade student) Cast: Stage Director: 330 youngsters from Estonian high Ivo Eensalu schools

78 RESEO 2013 on 13 March, 2011. The target age of the people themselves and performed twice the production was created by the young impact on individual lives. Each aspect of looking at the world recession and its was interpreted in diverse ways, including only be passed on by smuggling? The theme nothing more than commodities that could would it be if all tender feelings became in a world without love. What kind of world the questioning of the possibility of living people themselves, taking as their theme The template used was forged by the young National Ballet and their technical staff. from Estonian National Opera, Estonian people under the guidance of artists scratch in just two days by 330 young The Smuggled Love is an opera made from of of everyday life in a theatre, particularly objective was to give participants a taste audience was between 10 and 16 years. The goal. other young people, all focused on the same the experience of working alongside many [email protected] www.opera.ee RAHVUSOOPER ESTONIA

79 AMAZE ME Associazione Culturale Venti Lucenti

THE TALE OF AIDA LA FIABA DI AIDA

VERDI'S POWERFUL LOVE STORY, SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF WAR, GIVEN A NEW IMPETUS BY A CAST OF 300 YOUNG PEOPLE ON STAGE WITH THE PROFESSIONALS.

Composer: Costumes: percussion, 2 trumpets, bassoon, oboe, From Verdi’s Aida. Musical reduction Venti Lucenti trombone and clarinet by Mº Claudia Gori Conceptual manager: Running time: Librettist: Daniele Bacci 1 hour Antonio Ghislanzoni Project Manager: Sung in: Conductor: Chiara Casalbuoni Italian Mº Alvaro Lozano Head of Communication: Year of premiere: Stage Director: Michele Monasta 2011 Manu Lalli Cast: Scenography: Choir of 300 children; 4 professional Designed by Ginevra Boni singers and 8 professional musicians and Francesco Ghersina; realised by Music: Niccolò Franchi and Cecilia Russo An ensemble consisting of piano,

80 RESEO 2013 originally originally created for Venti Lucenti's projection by 300 voices. drama, experiences multiplied when given play in an opera full of epic scenes and great jealousy, courage, and loyalty come into of tragedy are sown. Themes of hate, daughter to betray Radames and the seeds leader of the Ethiopians, compels his contested war. Aida’s father Amonasro, come from opposing sides in a bitterly and the Egyptian leader Radames, who love between Aida, the Ethiopian princess, musicians. stage alongside professional singers and Bacci, and performed by 300 children on based on an idea developed by Daniele A scaled-down version of Verdi’s The staging of The story centres around the ill-fated La Fiaba di Aida Aida was , secondary secondary schools across Florence. between 8 and 14, drawn from primary and Maggio 2010/11 , which involved 600 students aged Progetto All’Opera..le scuole al [email protected] www.ventilucenti.it VENTI LUCENTI ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE

81 AMAZE ME Co-production between Opéra Royal de Wallonie and Fédération des Maisons de Jeunes en Belgique francophone (FMJ) VIOLETTA, AN ALTERNATIVE TRAVIATA VIOLETTA, UNE AUTRE TRAVIATA

VERDI’S MASTERPIECE ‘LA TRAVIATA’ TRANSLATED INTO A CONTEMPORARY SETTING BY AN ENTERPRISING COLLECTIVE OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TOOK CONTROL OF EVERY ASPECT OF PRODUCTION WITH GUIDANCE FROM OPERA PROFESSIONALS.

Composer: Ihssane Regmani Cast: The music was created on a Rachel Lucca 50 young people and animateurs from collaborative basis using Verdi’s La Cynthia Tshikuna FMJ in Evelette, Engis, Hodimont, Spa, Traviata as inspiration Valérie Lion Retinne and La Biocoque Librettist: Costumes: (Liège); 3 professional singers Marie Neyrinck, based upon ideas Stéphanie Defoux Instruments: contributed by a group of young Cynthia Tshikuna Piano and soundtrack performers Valérie Lion Running Time: Stage Director: ORW 1 hour 15 minutes Marie Neyrinck Sound: Sung and spoken: Choreography: VJ Insomnia, based on ideas French Cécile Lebrun contributed by a group of young Year of premiere: Savlatore Mangione performers 2013

82 RESEO 2013 she be sectioned in a psychiatric hospital. of her parents - and Alfredo’s father - that But Violetta is very ill and it is the opinion love, so agrees to a platonic relationship. But she does not think she is destined to Alfredo, a young man from a good family. rebel even further. At a party, she meets older, her best friend Anina pushes her to extraordinary characters. When she’s imagination, one that is peopled with puritanical world, she finds refuge in her family. Imprisoned in their austere and lively behaviour is condemned by her Traviata In this contemporary re-telling of young photographers whose work was The devising process was captured by three breakdance, hip-hop, slam and singing. theatre, oriental dance, jazz-dance, opera. They included ragga-dancehall, of areas to create a new version of Verdi’s drew on their different skills in a variety Opéra Royal de Wallonie, the young people In the original staging of this production at decides to take her life... Haunted by terrible nightmares, she , Violetta is a young girl whose La d’Impulsion à la Politique des Immigrés. Federation, the Province of Liège and Fonds National Lottery, the Walllonie-Bruxelles Support for the project came from the relate the classics of the past to their world. people involved, it represented a chance to exhibited in the opera’s foyer. For the young [email protected] www.operaliege.be OPÉRA ROYAL DE WALLONIE

83 AMAZE ME Den Jyske Opera VOLAPYK

A LITTLE GIRL LEARNS TO UNDERSTAND HER WORLD THROUGH AN IMAGINARY FRIEND WITH WHOM SHE DEVELOPS A NEW LANGUAGE.

Composer: Light: Running time: Pierre Dørge Rune Tønnes 40 minutes Librettist/Stage Director: Film: Year of premiere: Birger Bovin Jens Mønsted 2008 Scenographer/Costumes: Music: Tanja Bovin Clarinet and percussion

84 RESEO 2013 song, dance, mime and film. Its playful and telling a story through instrumental music, the whole creative team, and focuses on through a series of workshops involving of home and family. her adjust to her life in the everyday world opens her eyes to new horizons and helps meets a strange creature called Pyk who leads her into another world where she odd but magnificent language quite literally the constructed language Volapük). This a gibberish language, Volapyk (inspired by world of her own invention. She develops by retreating into a private, imaginary is soon to have a baby brother, she reacts and fears. When the little girl learns she power of language to express her hopes on how five-year-old Viola discovers the rather intriguing performance, centring come together in this delightful and World music and contemporary music The performance was developed other languages). and so it becomes easy to translate into words of Danish used in the performance speaking background. (There are only five number of children with a non-Danish particularly those which may have a large in nursery schools, or kindergartens, energetic format will appeal to audiences workshops for up to 25 children. in dance, song and play, is ideal for use in and her Mum, the scaled-down story, told audiences. Using the characters of Viola as a means to introduce the story to young interactive performance was also developed In addition to the opera, a small [email protected] www.jyske-opera.dk DEN JYSKE OPERA

85 AMAZE ME Théâtre et Orchestre national du Capitole WEST SIDE STORY

BERNSTEIN AND SONDHEIM’S MASTERPIECE OF MUSIC THEATRE OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE ART OF THE STAGE THROUGH A FAST-MOVING STORY OF TWO STAR-CROSSED LOVERS.

Composer: Sound: Running time: Leonard Bernstein Technical team Théâtre du Capitole 1 hour 15 minutes Lyrics: Light/Set: Sung in: Stephen Sondheim Gérard Champlon English Librettist: Cast: text in: Arthur Laurents 40 young people aged French Conductor: between 13 and 20 Year of premiere: Scott Alan Prouty Music: 2009/2010 season Stage Director/Costumes: Small ensemble- piano, flute, piccolo, Charlotte Nessi saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, Scenographer: trumpet, cornet, trombone, drums, Evandra Martins percussion and double bass

86 RESEO 2013 were performed by two young Americans. The principal soloists (Tony and Maria) and those without any stage experience. young people studying arts disciplines establishments in Toulouse, including between students from educational hold. York, where gang culture has taken a vicious Romeo and Juliet transposes the story of Shakespeare’s by family and friends. of the hatred and prejudice they are shown community. Their love is doomed because come from different sides of a divided who meet and fall in love, but unfortunately A timeless story about two young people This production was a collaboration to the streets of 1950s New West Side Story

was a great success because it was a means For many participants, the experience experiences and lives. production that had relevance to their own artists, as well as to work in a team on a for them to collaborate with professional www.theatre-du-capitole.fr THÉÂTRE DU CAPITOLE

87 AMAZE ME Co-production between Kungliga Operan and the University College of Opera ZÉMIRE AND AZOR ZÉMIRE OCH AZOR

A ROMANTIC-COMEDY ADVENTURE SET ON AN ISLAND REIGNED OVER BY A CRUEL AND TERRIBLE BEAST, CHALLENGED BY A HEROIC YOUNG GIRL WHO SETS OUT TO RELEASE HER FATHER CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

Composer: Costumes: Music: André Grétry in a free adaptation Anna Kjellsdotter 15 professional musicians by Karl Johan Ankarblom Light: Running time: Librettist: Lennart Persson 50 minutes Jean-Francois Marmontel in a free Theatrical and musical rehearsal Sung in: adaptation by Sophie Helsing directors for children: Swedish Conductor: Ann-Sophie Andersson and Bo Year of premiere: Martin Virin Johansson 2011 Stage Director: Cast: Josette Bushell-Mingo 1 professional; 3 students from Scenographer: the University College of Opera Jan Hedlund and 40 children

88 RESEO 2013 suburb suburb of Stockholm. Opera was a community project set in the Tensta Ankarblom. Grétry, in a free adapation by Karl Johan music by 18th century French composer This operatic adventure is set to lively Azor doesn’t exactly go as planned. and save him. However, her meeting with fate she decides to embark on an adventure the world, so when she hears of her father’s by putting him to death. Zémire longs to see plucks a rose and Azor vows to punish him dreaded beast called Azor. One day, Sander of the sea. The island is reigned over by a shipwrecked on an island in the middle Zémire’s merchant father Sander has been The original production grew out of

company staged the production on site. local schoolchildren for a year, before the incorporated into the daily curriculum for over Sweden. shown to over 6,000 children in cinemas all Zémire and Azor [email protected] www.operan.se KUNGLIGA OPERAN was also filmed in 3D and

89 AMAZE ME UN VOYAGE AVEC JOHN CAGE Opéra de Lille Austria 66 OPERA OF THE MOON 52 LYNX, THE LYNX L’OPÉRA DE LA LUNE LYNX, DER LUCHS Opéra de Dijon Landestheater Linz 72 ‘RAMEAU PROJECT’ PLATÉE & LES INDES GALANTES Les Talens Lyriques Belgium 76 SIEGFRIED AND THE 20 THE BRUSSELS REQUIEM CURSED RING La Monnaie/De Munt SIEGFRIED ET L’ANNEAU MAUDIT 82 VIOLETTA, AN ALTERNATIVE Ensemble Justiniana TRAVIATA / VIOLETTA, UNE 86 WEST SIDE STORY AUTRE TRAVIATA Théâtre et Orchestre national Opéra Royal de Wallonie du Capitole

Denmark Germany 84 VOLAPYK 12 ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES Den Jyske Opera ALI BABA UND DIE 40 RÄUBER Komische Oper Berlin 58 MOMO Estonia Junge Oper Stuttgart 78 THE SMUGGLED LOVE 62 MOSCOW CHERYOMUSHKI ARMASTUS SALAKAUBAKS MOSKAU TSCHERJOMUSCHKI Rahvusooper Estonia Junge Staatsoper Berlin 70 PUSS IN BOOTS DER GESTIEFELTE KATER France Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf 8 THE ABDUCTION FROM THE Duisburg SERAGLIO L'ENLÈVEMENT AU SÉRAIL Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie Italy 10 ALADDIN AND HIS MAGIC LAMP 30 DON'T CRY WOLF! ALADIN OU LA LAMPE LUPUS IN FABULA MERVEILLEUSE Teatro Sociale di Como - As.Li.Co. Opéra national du Rhin 38 THE ELIXIR OF LOVE 24 CHAT PERCHÉ, A RURAL OPERA L’ELISIR D’AMORE CHAT PERCHÉ, OPÉRA RURAL Associazione Musicale Tito Gobbi Opéra national de Paris 80 THE TALE OF AIDA 26 THE CHILD AND THE SPELLS LA FIABA DI AIDA L'ENFANT ET LES SORTILÈGES Associazone Culturale Venti Lucenti Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 28 DIDO AND AENEAS DIDON ET ENÉE Malta Cité de la musique 56 MALTESE FOLKTALES 32 DO RE MI FLEA SO LA TI DO Malta Association for GRAT’ MOI LA PUCE QUE J’AI Contemporary Music DANS L’DO Compagnie Minute Papillon 34 DOUCE AND BLUEBEARD Netherlands DOUCE ET BARBE-BLEUE 48 LITTLE RING / RINGETJE Opéra national de Lyon De Nederlandse Opera/ 44 LISTEN TO THE SILENCE - Het Nationale Ballet A JOURNEY WITH JOHN CAGE

90 RESEO 2013

64 60 46 50 16 74 42 36 22 40 88 68 14 54 18

Glyndebourne Scottish Opera Opera North United Kingdom RETOUR DE LA NUIT Kungliga Operan Malmö Opera / Operaverkstan PS JAG KOMMER SNART HEM! Teatro de la Zarzuela Spain for Children and Young Audiences Moscow State Opera and Ballet Theatre Russia Companhia de Música Teatral Portugal Bergen Nasjonale Opera MY MOTHER IS A DRAGON Sweden LA REINA MORA THE MOORISH QUEEN Gran Teatre del Liceu THE LITTLE MAGIC FLUTE THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES ALIBABACH ALL ABOUT MY FAMILY Norway THE MAGIC PIANO A REAL PRINCESS IMAGO THE ELEPHANT ANGEL CAUTIONARY TALES! GULLIVER, LILLIPUT ALLER- GULLIVER, RETURN TO LILLIPUT AMAHL ET LES VISITEURS AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS Switzerland ZÉMIRE OCH AZOR ZÉMIRE AND AZOR PS I WILL SOON BE HOME! GöteborgsOperan Welsh National Opera Holland Opera LA LA PETITA FLAUTA MÀGICA Jeune Opéra Compagnie Opéra - Théâtre MIN MAMMA ÄR EN DRAKE

91 AMAZE ME About RESEO For over 15 years, RESEO, the European Network for Opera and Dance Education, has been the unique European network for education, participation and creative learning in opera and dance. From large opera organisations to small companies, our members are driven by the desire to widen access, awaken curiosity, and create a connection with opera and dance for everyone! Spread across 20 countries in Europe and beyond, RESEO’s members form a diverse yet coherent network, experimenting with new concepts, sharing ideas, learning and working together. The network supports them in their overarching aim to firmly anchor opera into their local contexts and enhance their communities’ sense of ownership. A catalyst for development in the sector, RESEO creates a unique European working space, providing tools such as thematic conferences, invitations to innovative projects, specialist trainings, promotion of opera for children, research studies and publications. RESEO is also active in the field of advocacy for opera and dance education and audience development towards the European institutions. A non-profit organisation with offices in La Monnaie/ De Munt opera house in Brussels, RESEO receives financial support from the European Commission’s Culture programme since 2008.

92 RESEO 2013 93 AMAZE ME 94 RESEO 2013 or transmitted in any form stored in a retrieval system, may be reproduced, No part of this publication ISBN 978-2-9600646-3-6 www.reseo.org [email protected] Cecilia Gobbi Violaine Fournier Maike Fölling Margot Dutilleul Marc Dunleavy Trine Dueholm Julia Dehais Jane Davidson Julie David François Cattin Chiara Casalbuoni Michèle Cart Claire Cantuel Rainer O. Brinkmann Koen Bollen Cécile Boasson Naïs Bediat Jennika Antila contributions: following members for their RESEO wishes to thank the permission of RESEO. without a prior written recording or otherwise, mechanical, photocopying, or by any means electronic, All rights Copyright reserved RESEO March 2013 member or become a publication To order the contributors List of

Ruben Zahra Valérie Urbain Carme Trobalon Frédérique Tessier Artur Silva Helena Rodrigues Geir Rege Anastasia Rakhmanova Almudena Pedrero Rahel Otsa Anne-Kathrin Ostrop Anne-Sophie Noël Helen Naulot-Molmerret Charline Mohn Valérie Mazarguil Anne Marguerin Michela Mannari Lucy Lowe Flora Klein David Johansson Agnès de Jacquelot Niek Idelenburg Rhian Hutchings Joke Hoolboom Birgitte Holt Nielsen Maria Hjertner Ringblom Marie Gueden Jappe Groenendijk Nadine Grenzendörfer Anouk Rebaud and assistant: pleaseletmedesign B- 1000 Brussels Rue Léopold 23 RESEO to this project. for their commitment interns for RESEO – and Mathilde Vuidar Justine Scandola Designed by thanks thanks to Special Published Published by

www.pennysimpson.com editor and novelist. Wales-based journalist, Penny Simpson is a Penny Simpson: the the editor About

95 AMAZE ME Photo Credits Ben van Duin MALTESE FOLKTALES THE ABDUCTION FROM THE Nel Pace (illustration) SERAGLIO Stephen Buhagiar (pictures) Frédéric Carnuccini MOMO ALADDIN AND HIS MAGIC LAMP Mascha Schubert Aladin et la lampe merveilleuse THE MOORISH QUEEN OnR, Saison 2009-2010/Photo: Fernando Marcos Alain Kaiser MOSCOW CHERYOMUSHKI ALI BABA AND THE FORTY Thomas Bartilla THIEVES MY MOTHER IS A DRAGON Bettina Stöß Thomas Harrysson ALIBABACH OPERA OF THE MOON CMT Gilles Abegg ALL ABOUT MY FAMILY PS I WILL SOON BE HOME! Bergen National Opera (Composer Petra Carlsson Thyrvin Atle Halstenen) PUSS IN BOOTS Magnus Skrede Frank Heller (Librettist Astrid Luisa Niebuhr) “RAMEAU PROJECT” PLATÉE AMAHL AND THE NIGHT & LES INDES GALANTES VISITORS Bénédicte Hertz Isabelle Meister A REAL PRINCESS THE BRUSSELS REQUIEM Brian Tarr Linda Lovrovic SIEGFRIED AND THE CURSED CAUTIONARY TALES! RING Cinammon Haigh (drawing) - Siegfried et l’anneau maudit Robert Workman (production copyright Opéra national de images) Paris (costumes Jérôme Kaplan) CHAT PERCHÉ A RURAL OPERA THE SMUGGLED LOVE photo Xavier Pinon Madli-Liis Parts Opéra national de Paris THE TALE OF AIDA THE CHILD AND THE SPELLS Maddalena Ammannati Patrick Berger ArtcomArt VIOLETTA, AN ALTERNATIVE DIDO AND AENEAS TRAVIATA Daniel Bardou Jacques Croisier (left picture) DO RE MI FLEA SOL LA TI DO Olfa Chedli (right picture) Karine Zibaut VOLAPYK DON’T CRY WOLF! Anders Bach Elisabetta Molteni Den Jyske Opera DOUCE AND BLUEBEARD WEST SIDE STORY Michel Cavalca Patrice Nin THE ELEPHANT ANGEL ZÉMIRE AND AZOR Tommy Ga-Ken Wan Alexander Kenney THE ELIXIR OF LOVE Tiziana Ciliani GULLIVER, RETURN TO LILLIPUT Pablo Fernandez IMAGO Robert Workman LISTEN TO THE SILENCE - A JOURNEY WITH JOHN CAGE Muziektheater Transparant THE LITTLE MAGIC FLUTE Antoni Bofill LITTLE RING Hans van den Bogaard THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES Elena Lapina LYNX, THE LYNX Reinhard Winkler THE MAGIC PIANO

96 RESEO 2013 97 AMAZE ME OPERA FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES IN EUROPE

Discover a European “best of” of productions for young audiences, both of new creations and repertoire revisited. Of well known stories – and contemporary subject matters. Of participatory operas, cross-arts adventures, small formats and main-stage productions. Find out more about pro- ductions for teens, for children, and even for toddlers. And most often, it is a production that is of interest to all ages, in which every audience member will be swept away by a different sense of wonder, where quality is revealed. This book is a showcase of one of the most rapidly evolving sectors in the domain of opera, which is breaking free of preconceptions and experimenting new ways of creating operatic works: that of productions for young audiences. Strangely, however, visibility seems to be lacking on European level. Maybe it is a book like this that was lacking to date?

Discover a cutting-edge art form! Be inspired by an intriguing and colourful insight into amazing productions for young audiences throughout Europe.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.