WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOLS
Unexpected Opera is currently launching an education programme designed to pique curiosity, counter prejudice, and reveal that opera is an expressive exploration of the human experience - not some weird ritual.
We normally present two workshops a day for up to 60 pupils in each session. Our team includes a director/animateur, a composer/pianist and one or two singers. Each workshop includes performances of 3 very different opera scenes, in English, with costumes and props. There is plenty of humour as well as serious examination of the music, stories and workshop theme. We encourage open discussion, include time for questions, and finish with a creative session in which we devise, sing and ‘perform’ a short scene using the words and ideas of the pupils.
Our FRIENDSHIP workshop comes in two forms: with male singers or with female singers.The men are a tenor and a baritone who perform scenes by Puccini, Britten and Verdi. The women, a soprano and a mezzo, perform scenes by Verdi, Puccini and Stravinsky.
Our ANGER workshop features a mezzo-soprano performing arias from operas by Ravel, Mozart and Handel. Our FEAR workshop brings a bass-baritone to your school with excerpts from operas by Verdi, Mozart and Mussorgsky.
These workshops are best suited to years 5, 6, 7 and 8, but can be adapted for younger or older groups. We can emphasize whichever elements best reinforce your music, drama or PSHE curriculum. We require a piano, a reasonably large space, and about 20 minutes for set-up and warm-up.
We are also exploring collaborative residencies based on Mozart'’s Magic Flute with several schools. If you are interested in our workshops, a residency, or a project tailored to enhance your curriculum, please get in touch via our Contact Us page.
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