Opera in Space?
As Welsh National Opera perform their latest family-friendly offering, Opera Play Live: Space Spectacular, Emma Schofield ventures along with her family and reflects on why we need opera for everyone.
I’m not entirely joking when I say that one of the hardest things about becoming a parent is, without doubt, the painful realisation that your children have no musical taste whatsoever. If you’ve ever found yourself at a kids’ party suffering through the horror of songs such as the ever-popular ‘Chu Chu Ua’ (follow the link at your own peril), then you’ll know exactly what I mean. If it’s not Disney soundtracks, it’s endless gimmick songs, complete with irritating melodies and repetitive lyrics which insist you perform various actions, on repeat, forever, until the end of the known universe.
With that in mind, I approached the prospect of an afternoon at the opera with my young daughters with some trepidation, only to find myself in one of the most relaxed atmospheres I’ve ever encountered in the Wales Millennium Centre. We arrived to find the foyer had been repurposed as a hub for colouring, alien hat-making, flag designing and face painting, a lovely touch which set the tone for the performance. Once inside, the lights, costumes and orchestra made for a colourful spectacle which seemed to easily capture the attention of most of its young audience members.
To read the rest of this article click here.