Opera for beginners, children and young people

Anyone who wants to give their children a broader taste in music than the drivel of casting bands assembled under marketing considerations, as preparation for a later life that should be relaxed through frequent music enjoyment, will introduce them to many musical genres at a young age.

The young people should then become familiar with the various forms of entertainment music as well as the different faces of classical music, and this includes being introduced to the topic of "opera" 

Even though this project is viewed with mixed feelings by quite a few parents, opera and youth initially seem to be a very difficult topic.

However, the lively interest of adults in visiting a music theatre (as opera venues are called in "cultural theory") is often underestimated by these parents: Opera is very present in our country; a third of the population goes to the opera once a year, 5 percent more than to a folk music or pop music performance.

According to the cultural barometer compiled annually by the Centre for Cultural Research, parents in our country are decidedly interested in inspiring their children with classical music and our musical heritage

In response to these encouraging results from visitor statistics and surveys, music theatres have responded with growing enthusiasm in recent years, offering more and more programs for children and young people that free the introduction to our magnificent cultural heritage from any inappropriate reverence and simply make it fun.

Let's take one of our capital city operas as an example: The Deutsche Oper Berlin has developed its own children's and youth section, the "Junge Deutsche Oper," where there's quite a lot going on: There's a concert series for the very youngest, the so-called "baby concerts," Advent singing for children, and in the spring, Max and Moritz as a scenic cushion concert, suitable for children aged 4 and up.

Several pieces were specially staged for children and young people; for example, Peter I. Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" was performed under the motto "Children dance for children," the fairy tale of the Magic Flute was created based on motifs by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for kids aged 5 and up, and teenagers aged 14 and up could actively participate in a youth project on Wagner's "Ring of the Nibelung" called "The Ring: Next Generation" until spring 2013.

This unique project enabled up to 80 young people to experience the stage of the Deutsche Oper firsthand and to develop a new and experimental music theatre evening together with a directing team, musicians and singers.

The “Next Generation” here is not only represented as the following generation, which, as in Wagner’s original, is supposed to put the world in order for the parents, but their attitude to life is also taken into account by DJ Alexandra Holtsch and DJ Panacea, who contrast electronic music and sound from records with the Wagner music from the orchestra pit.

Other pieces were written specifically for children, for example, "Irgendwie Anders" (Somehow Different), a musical theatre piece by Juliane Klein, and "Oh, wie schön ist Panama" (Oh, How Beautiful Panama Is), a musical theatre piece by Lin Wang based on motifs by Janosch, which premiered in January 2013. Both performances are suitable for young audiences aged 5 and up.

For children between 5 and 9 years old, there are the Opera Mice, who can indulge their curiosity by discovering the opera through guided tours and workshops behind the scenes; the Deutsche Oper Berlin has its own children's choir; and for older young people aged 15 to 30, there is the Youth Club – backstage, which allows teens to participate in opera performances, orchestra and stage rehearsals, and guided tours.

The youth club's opera regulars' table facilitates encounters with artists and staff; members of the umbrella organization "Juvenilia" can exchange ideas with the youth clubs of other European opera houses.

For those interested in active participation, there's the youth club – onstage , a drama club for music theatre enthusiasts with a “music theatre laboratory” where research, rehearsals, and experimentation take place. The young people learn about the entire development process of an opera project and, at the very end, get to perform on stage themselves.

At least in Berlin, it's not at all difficult to introduce a child or young person to the world of opera in an impressive way. All information about the children's and youth projects can be found on the website www.deutscheoperberlin.de under the link "Junge Deutsche Oper" (Young German Opera).

Such opera-related projects exist in many cities in Germany; why not inquire at your local opera house? Alternatively, you can search for programs for young people on the website of Juvenilia, the European association of young opera lovers; you can find the site (only in English) at www.juvenilia.org.

You can also gain fascinating insights into working with children on the subject of opera in the following article by Christoph Hölscher. In it, he rehearses the high art of opera with children. Here, adult musicians and performers present the genre of opera in a child-friendly way:

Perhaps this opportunity will inspire you to treat yourself to an exciting evening at ? Or are you, as an adult, just beginning to develop an interest in opera?

You also have a choice of various operas recommended for adult "opera beginners". An article about these "operas for beginners" will be available here soon