CINCINNATI OPERA OPERA STORYBOOK HOUR Elena’s Serenade Language Comprehension Written by Campbell Geeslin, Illustrated by Ana Juan
THE STORY
Elena is a young girl living in Mexico who wants to be a glassblower, just like her papa, but when she asks to become a one, everyone tells her that girls can’t be glassblowers. Determined to make her dreams come true, she disguises herself as a boy and travels to Monterrey. With the help of her magic pipe and some animal friends she meets along the way, Elena becomes the best glassblower in Mexico.
Story Comprehension 1. What is a glassblower? 2. What reason does Elena’s papa give to not teach her how to become a glassblower? 3. Where does Pedro, Elena’s brother, tell Elena to go to learn glassblowing? 4. What does Elena wear to disguise herself as a boy? 5. Who does Elena meet when she plays “Burro Serenade” on her pipe? How does she help him? 6. How does Burro help Elena on her journey? 7. Who does Elena meet when she plays “La Marcha Grande de Mejico”? How does she help him? 8. Who does Elena meet when she plays “Cielito Lindo”? How does she help him? 9. What happens when Elena plays “Estrellita” on her pipe? 10. What happens when Elena plays “La Golondrina” on her pipe? 11. How does Elena disguise herself to her father? 12. How does Elena’s papa react to being reunited with his daughter?
1 Language Comprehension
Elena’s Serenade is a bilingual book using both English and Spanish terms. Match the Spanish phrases with the English translation.
El sol The butterfly
La luna Big
Grande Goodbye
Sombrero Please
Burro Yes
Sí Donkey
Señor The sun
Qué pasa Hat
Adíos Little Star
Mi amigo How pretty
Por favor What happened
Muchacho Good morning
Estrellita Boy
La golondrina Sir
Buenos días The moon
Qué bonita My friend
La mariposa The swallow
2 Opera Comprehension
(Please refer to the previous study guides for definitions and help with the following sections.)
What is Opera? Answer the questions to refresh your opera knowledge. 1. What performance elements can be found in opera?
2. What is the definition of opera?
3. Do opera singers use microphones?
4. Where did opera begin?
5. What languages are operas written in?
6. What are the “subtitles” of opera called?
7. What are singers with leading roles in an opera called?
8. What are the background actors and singers in an opera called?
9. Who tells singers how to act and move on stage?
10. Who makes sure the orchestra and singers are working together?
3 Opera Terms
Read the paragraph and identify all the opera terms.
The soprano stepped out on stage, ready to perform the finale of the operetta. It was a beautiful aria that showed off the coloratura of her voice. However, before she could begin, the tenor suddenly rushed the stage, pushing past her. “I will be the star of the night,” he exclaimed! The soprano blinked back her surprise, then an idea came to her. “How about we perform a duet? Then we can both share the spotlight.” The tenor nodded in agreement. The soprano smiled, singing a duet was easier than singing a quartet, she thought to herself. She quickly whispered to the ensemble to play a duet, and the soprano and tenor sang the words of the libretto beautifully. When they finished performing, the audience cheered, “Bravo! Brava!” Some even shouted, “Encore!” And with that, the two smiled and began to sing together again.
Operatic Voices
Create as many anagrams (a new word) using the letters of the voice types. Example: Anagram: ana, gram, ram, ragman
1. Soprano (highest female voice)
2. Mezzo-soprano (middle female voice)
3. Alto (lowest female voice) Contralto (lowest female voice)
4. Tenor (highest male voice)
5. Baritone (middle male voice)
6. Bass (lowest male voice)
4 The Music
“El café de Chinitas” is written by Federico García Lorca and La Argentinita. It is a traditional Spanish children’s song that tells the story of two brothers who compete with each other. The lyrics explain how the brother Paquiro boasted about his skills, only to be just a showman, full of talk. In the story, Elena is the opposite. She is humble yet skillful, but others around her do not give her a chance to show her full potential. Write a story about a character who is either arrogant or humble, and how they are affected by their attitudes.
Lorca, La Argentinita, and Spanish Flamenco
“El café de Chinitas” was written by Federico García Lorca. Lorca was considered one of the most important Spanish poets and dramatists of the twentieth century. In 1922, he composed the first cante jondo, or deep song. This deep song format would go on to shape the rest of his poetry, and become what is known as flamenco.
Flamenco is an art form native to Spain that is commonly asso- Federico García Lorca ciated with Andalusian Roma of Southern Spain. Originally, flamenco dancing was not traditionally set to music, instead using singing and hand claps or castanets. However, now set to music, flamenco consists of three parts: the guitar, the song, and the dance. La Argentinita
Dancers stomp their feet and clap their hands as they sing to music with deep meanings. They use their entire bodies and facial expressions to portray emotion. La Argentinita is a famous flamenco dancer, who performed the first flamenco dance of “El café de Chinitas”. Together, she and Lorca created the Madrid Ballet in 1932.
Today, flamenco is still a widely celebrated art form of Spain that influences modern singers and dancers all over the world.
5 Lyrics and Translation
El café de Chinitas
En el café de Chinitas In the Chinitas Café dijo Paquiro a su hermano, Paquiro said to his brother, En el café de Chinitas In the Chinitas Café dijo Paquiro a su hermano: Paquiro said to his brother:
“Soy más valiente que tú, “I’m braver than you are, más torero y más gitano.” A better bullfighter and a better gypsy.” “Soy más valiente que tú, “I’m braver than you are, más torero y más gitano.” A better bullfighter and a better gypsy.”
Sacó Paquiro el reló Paquiro took out his watch y dijo de esta manera, And put it this way, Sacó Paquiro el reló Paquiro took out his watch y dijo de esta manera: And put it this way:
“Este toro ha de morir “That bull will die antes de las cuatro y media.” Before 4:30.” “Este toro ha de morir “That bull will die antes de las cuatro y media. Before 4:30.”
Al dar las cuatro en la calle At 4 o’clock by the street clock se salieron del café. They left the café. Al dar las cuatro en la calle At 4 o’clock by the street clock se salieron del café. They left the café.
Y era Paquiro en la calle And in the street Paquiro was un torero de cartel, Just a bullfighter on a poster, y era Paquiro en la calle And in the street Paquiro was un torero de cartel. Just a bullfighter on a poster.
6 Create Your Own Castanets
In the video, mezzo-soprano Brenda Iglesias is using castanets to enhance the music, just like Elena used her pipe to enhance her music. You can create music at home, too. Follow the instructions below to create your own castanets!
Materials: Cardboard Coloring Utensils 4 Bottle caps/buttons/coins Scissors Tape/Glue/Superglue
Steps: 1. Cut two pieces of cardboard into strips about 5 inches long. You can also cut the ends into an oval shape if you’d like.
2. Decorate strips.
3. Fold strips in half to create crease in middle.
4. Tape or glue bottle caps/buttons/coins to the back side of strip. Make sure that the caps will touch when folded. If you are using bottle caps, make sure the jagged side in glued on the cardboard, and not facing up.
5. Once the caps/buttons/coins are secure, play by opening and closing castanets. Enjoy!
7 Color
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