How to write family-friendly opera

Family-friendly opera must be nasty, brutish and short – and go easy on the slow passagesChildren love stories. Most enjoy singing, too: you could say that opera is a natural medium for them. But, of course, hardly any operas are actually aimed at them – some of them defeat quite a few adults, let alone children. Yet boys and girls brought up on The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast have no problem with singing princesses. And opera thrives on fairytales.For several years, I'v...

Read full article Share article