Opera Starts with Oh "Designed to Empower - Leonore"

Opera Starts with Oh “Designed to Empower - Leonore”

Last month Opera Lafayette presented our second Opera starts with Oh! family program of the season in DC and NY respectively titled “Designed to Empower: Leonore.”

The two sold-out events focused on the story of Beethoven’s Leonore through music and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring an opera production to life. The families created dioramas guided by our guest set designer, Kate Noll; learned about spotlights and gobos from our guest lighting expert, Debra Harrison; and sang a few lines from Leonore’s aria “Komm, Hoffnung, lass den letzten Stern” in German, guided by our singer Manna Jones and violinist, Jude Ziliak.

Learn more about our community programming here. And, save the date for our next upcoming Opera Starts with Oh program for The Blacksmith here.

Opera Starts with Oh "Expands Her World”

Opera Starts with Oh ‘Expands Her World”

“Expanding her world.” That’s how one parent responded to the question, “Sum up your experience in three words.

The respondent went on to write that what she liked the most was “The professionalism of your artists in talking about and teaching the workshop.”

Opera Lafayette kicked off the 2019/2020 season with Opera Starts with an Oh! – our programming for families – on October 20, 2019 in partnership with The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital in DC, and on October 27 in partnership with Carousel of Languages in New York.

With a focus on Mythology and Dance and built around Opera Lafayette’s upcoming production of John Blow’s Venus and Adonis, each afternoon began with Emma Jaster explaining about gods and goddesses and sharing the story of Venus and Adonis.

Children and adults rotated through three activities: dancing baroque style led by choreographer and dancer Julia Bengtsson; learning to sing the Little Cupid’s song from John Blow’s score; and making arrows or wings. The afternoons ended with the children performing the dance and song. The next Opera Starts with Oh! is based on Beethoven’s Leonore and will focus on Designed to Empower. DC: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 3:00 pm; and NY: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 3:00 p.m.