This book provides a musicological investigation into operas that include children. Just over 100 works have been selected here for an in-depth discussion of the composer, the children, and the productions, and around 250 relevant works from around the world are also referenced. Four composers to have most significantly proliferated the medium are discussed in even greater detail: César Cui, Benjamin Britten, Gian Carlo Menotti, and Peter Maxwell Davies. Since opera began, it has been inextricably linked to society, by reflecting and shaping our culture through music and narrative, and, as a result, children have been involved. Despite the contribution they played, for several centuries, their importance was overlooked. By tracing the development of children’s participation in opera, this book uncovers the changing attitudes of composers towards them, and how this was reflected in the wider society. From the early productions of the seventeenth century, to those of the twenty-first century, the operatic children’s role has undergone a fundamental change. It almost seems that contemporary composers of operas view the inclusion of children in some way as ubiquitous. The rise of the children’s opera chorus and the explosion of children’s-only productions attest to the changing view of the value they can bring to the art. Some of the children to have characterised these roles are discussed in this book in order to redress the disproportionate lack of acknowledgement they often received for their performances.

An illustrated retelling of the plots of fifteen well-known operas.

Applause! Applause! And wasn't it easy! Even non-musical teachers will love using this simple musical play. Children will bring stories to life through drama, music, art, language, and gross motor activities. Each book contains a CD (print books) or audio files (eBooks) and a resource guide loaded with songs, music, and step-by-step directions for classroom use or performance. The CD and audio files contain both songs with lyrics, and piano accompaniment only. This play is loaded with wonderful music and catchy lyrics that children will want to sing again and again!

A curious wood mouse, Maurice decides to explore the opera house, which glimmers like a giant lantern from across the lawn. Lured by beautiful music, he sneaks in for a tour of the opera house’s rehearsals, wardrobe room, restaurant, and orchestra pit. The uninvited guest causes a great commotion, triggering a wild chase. Luckily, a gentle caretaker understands that even a little mouse can yearn for music.

A stunning, operatic, epic drama, like no other. Meet Hel, an ordinary teenager - and goddess of the Underworld. Why is life so unfair? Hel tries to make the bets of it, creating gleaming halls in her dark kingdom and welcoming the dead who she is forced to host for eternity. Until eternity itself is threatened. Francesca's first and wonderful foray into teen.

Fernando the mouse loves helping at the opera, but singer Dolores thinks she deserves a bigger assistant.