Opera can be as enchanting as a fairy tale, as raucous as the circus, or as dramatic as Harry Potter’s quest. And better still, the action is set to some of the world’s most glorious music. It seems to me to be the perfect entertainment for a child, and introducing children to the delights of opera is what SING ME A STORY is all about.
Dispel the notion that opera is “too difficult” for a child and present to your son or daughter an art form that encompasses all the arts: drama, music, and the visual arts through sets and costumes. I wrote and illustrated SING ME A STORY to stimulate a child’s interest in opera by recreating, as fully as possible, the experience of a live performance. With public schools steadily cutting arts programs, books on the performing and visual arts are more crucial than ever to educating our children.
To prepare your youngster for Puccini’s dazzling La Bohème, take a look at my retelling from SING ME A STORY. If possible, play some musical highlights. And if available, pop in a DVD of one of the many recorded performances. You’ll be surprised at the richness and pure fun your child will experience when attending La Bohème, as he or she approaches the production with all the anticipation and wonder of an opera enthusiast, reveling in the gaiety and hardship that is the Paris of Puccini’s band of Bohemians.