By Julie Todaro, Producer

The Young Patronesses of the Opera was thrilled to bring the art of music and theater rolled into one – OPERA, to elementary school children this year. Almost 2,000 first graders experienced the performance of “Papageno”, a take off of Mozart’s “Magic Flute” at the Joseph Caleb Auditorium. The full 30-minute performance included professional singers/actors, costumes, sets and live music. This humorous production shares a good moral and gives the children an opportunity to experience an art form they may not otherwise get a chance to see. The teachers were also given a workbook to share with the students before the show to get them ready for the performance and practice their cognitive skills in the classroom.  The students loved the opera and were a fantastic audience – they laughed, applauded and yelled Bravo at the end. We look forward to participating in the program again next year.