Opera for Young Audiences

For many young people, Tapestry is the doorway to their first experience of the operatic art form. One of the many benefits of the Tapestry creation process is that creative teams come forward with projects that are engaging, important stories for youth. Within the recent years Tapestry operas for young audiences have tackled important social issues such as bullying prevention, friendship and healthy eating while introducing the operatic medium to schools and communities across the province. Telling these important stories through opera allows children, teachers and community organizers to engage with the social issues in a new way. It is a powerful experience to hear a professional opera singer for the first time and this experience is heightened when children are listening to a story that is relevant to their own lives. All of Tapestry’s opera for young audience productions and workshops provide opportunities for pre and post-performance events that nurture the relationship between the artists and the students.

Currently in Production

Get Stuffed (Alexis Diamond & Richard Payne)

In 2009 Tapestry and Words in Motion premiered Get Stuffed, to the students of southern Ontario. Written by Alexis Diamond and composed by Richard Payne, Get Stuffed was developed in association with the Canadian Diabetes Association and encourages youth to make healthy food choices inspired by the Canada Food Guide. Tapestry launched the world premiere in April 2009 with a performance attended by the Minister of Health Promotion. Get Stuffed toured southern Ontario is 2009 and visited northern communities in spring 2010 reaching 15,000 students in Ontario over its first two years. The tour was generously supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Ministry of Health Promotion and Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc.

A new Canadian opera for young audiences, Get Stuffed is a comedy about serious decisions. Written for 5 singing actors and 2 musicians, Get Stuffed promotes environmentally-friendly, healthy food choices inspired by the Canada Food Guide with special prominence for fruits and vegetables grown in Ontario.

Please visit www.getstuffed.ca for more information. To inquire about upcoming tour availability please call 416.537.6066 x224 or email education@tapestrynewopera.com

Past Productions

Elijah’s Kite (Camyar Chai & James Rolfe)

In 2006 Tapestry kicked off the inaugural tour of Elijah’s Kite by James Rolfe and Camyar Chai, which after a world premiere in New York City had its Canadian premiere at Rideau Hall in the presence of Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada. Elijah’s Kite was developed in partnership with the Manhattan School of Music.  The study guide was written by arts education specialist Pat McCarthy in collaboration with Katherine McKenney and Dr. Debra Pepler of York University. Dr. Pepler has endorsed the project, which deals with her area of specialty, bullying, a subject of concern for children, parents and educators everywhere. This timely and important work has been seen by over 30,000 students throughout Ontario. Elijah’s Kite was also toured in British Columbia by Pacific Opera Victoria, making it one of the only Canadian operas to ever have two simultaneous productions.

Elijah’s Kite is a morality tale that deals with school violence and bullying. It is written with tenderness and humour, and explores the issues of friendship, loneliness and self image.

Nine year old Elijah feels alone in the school yard and has a lot of trouble from Big Billy Brett. For comfort, Elijah brings his favourite kite to school. One day, they meet a strong new girl named Miriam who isn’t afraid of Billy and stands up to him but in turn she becomes a bully too. In the end, they all learn to turn something negative about Billy into something good and together discover what it takes to make Elijah’s kite fly: cooperation!

The performance of Elijah’s Kite incorporates 5 professional singers and an instrumental ensemble of electric bass, piano and percussion. In preparation for every performance of Elijah’s Kite a select group of students (school choir, music class or teacher-selected group) have the exciting opportunity to play a key role as the “chorus of school children”.

Sanctuary Song (Marjorie Chan & Abigail Richardson)

In June 2008 Tapestry and Theatre Direct launched a comprehensive education programme, in partnership with Luminato, Toronto’s Festival of Arts & Creativity, for the world premiere of Sanctuary Song (by Abigail Richardson and Marjorie Chan), a production for all ages which won the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Opera/Musical in 2009. This production focused on the themes of friendship and memory and the wonder of communication in the human and natural worlds.

“Sometimes the most beautiful friendships come in unusual sizes…”

In Sanctuary Song, Sydney, an Asian elephant poached from the jungle at a young age, recalls her remarkable life in captivity, far from home, as her keeper of 22 years leads her on a journey towards sanctuary in the hills of Tennessee.

A dynamic weave of opera and dance unearths friendships, lost and found.  The power of memory and the wonder of communication in the human and natural worlds resonate in this moving production.