So che quando ho sperimentato un miracolo: getting the opportunity to meet Andrew Lloyd Weber in the 1980’s to talk about the talent of an unknown artist named Sarah Brightman who was to headline in a Lloyd Weber production called Song and Dance; seduto accanto a Jim Henson, mentre parlava della sua visione per il suo follow-up a The Muppets – un po 'di spettacolo chiamato Fraggle Roccia; being taken by my friends Suzan and Jerry Kremer to see a charismatic young conductor named Francisco Nunez inspire a little known diverse chorus of young people to sing music that was just as inspiring as it was boldly diverse.
How do I know I have witnessed a miracle? I get goose bumps. I feel I am in the presence of genius. And so far the goose bumps have not let me down. None of the aforementioned artists failed to raise the bar in their illustrious careers and deliver creative contributions to the arts that I believed the world would enthusiastically embrace.
Twenty-three years since its beginning, Nunez’s Young People’s Chorus has become one of the most influential and honored choruses in the world. Nel processo, it has introduced millions of listeners, giovani e meno giovani, di grande musica per tutta la gamma, comprese le più recenti composizioni d'avanguardia. Collaborazioni con compositori apprezzati, artisti, e le istituzioni hanno causato sia il mondo delle arti e il mondo della scuola per ammirare i miracoli che Nunez ha realizzato con un gruppo di giovani musicisti di diventare “un modello nazionale di eccellenza artistica e la diversità,” secondo il Comitato di Presidenza per le Arti e le Lettere.
Allora, qual è il prossimo?
Un altro miracolo, naturalmente.
Nunez ha commissionato una nuova opera giustamente chiamato Miracolo! dal compositore / direttore d'orchestra Victoria Bond e il librettista Susan L. Roth, an author and illustrator of children’s books. Miracolo!, detto in canto e danza, is the story about the miracle of Hanukkah. It features original music as well as traditional Hanukkah melodies. The opera’s eight principals include feisty children, genitori saggi e nonni, not to mention a singing dog and toy bear. A packed house of enthusiastic families at the Jewish Community Center workshop in Manhattan last weekend exclaimed it a hit. Young People’s Chorus Assistant Conductor Sophia Miller guided the cast of approximately 30 school children ranging in age from 7 – 12 through the production as the audience laughed, sang along and applauded the joyous holiday opera.
Next up, The Young People’s Chorus of New York City is planning a full blown production with orchestra, sets, e costumi di dicembre, 2012. Victoria and Susan explain they will “continuare a lucidare e perfezionare l'opera.” It will be orchestrated as there is interest from other opera companies to include it in their winter season. As the new opera Miracolo! continua il suo viaggio di vincere i cuori e trasformare l'educazione musicale dei bambini, Ho accolto con favore l'opportunità di chiacchierare con Francisco, Vittoria, e Susan sul contributo di questa importante nuova opera lirica al mondo della educazione musicale.
Francisco, I didn’t know young children’s voices could handle “musica lirica”. What are the big differences between a children’s opera versus a children’s musical?
It isn’t unusual for children to sing in opera. They have been doing that for years either as characters in operas of well-known composers or those written specifically for children, come Brundibar by Czech composer Hans Krasa. The big difference between an opera and a musical is that generally in opera everything is sung. In a musical there is spoken dialogue.
What special training, disciplina, and preparation do young children need before they can sing opera?
These children are already trained singers, but in opera, singers need a lot of breath, as well as coaching in acting and reacting. For the opera, we needed to work with each of the eight soloists (madre, padre, grandmother, grandfather, daughter, son, dog, and toy bear) individually to learn to project and to act a role. We worked with them to learn how to communicate the story while singing and reacting to each other’s characters.
Why did you feel it was necessary to commission an opera versus a musical?
I feel that children should be exposed to opera and the art of opera. I want them to be engaged in this sophisticated art form. From singing this kind of music, they learn different singing techniques.
Susan and Victoria, why is opera such an important art form for young children’s music education?
Susan and I believe that opera encompasses all of the arts. In an easy and natural way it exposes children to music, danza, costume e progettazione, dramma, storia, e poesia. Tale esperienza intensa opera in tenera età può favorire un apprezzamento per tutta la vita.
Vittoria, why do you believe Miracolo! avrà appeal universale?
I bambini di ogni provenienza e l'origine etnica hanno un problema simile – ottenere con ogni altra. Miracolo! affronta questo come i bambini iniziano (in the opera) by arguing and not listening. They plan a play celebrating Hanukkah, but they can’t agree on anything. During the course of the opera, they learn to listen to each other’s stories and songs, and they begin to become more tolerant and understanding. Hanukkah is a celebration of light, e Miracolo! is about how that light goes off in each child’s head, saying, “We need to get along with our parents, our brothers and sisters, and our friends.” The story also represents bringing community together.
Susan, what are your thoughts on the universal appeal of Miracolo!?
Penso che Miracolo! has universal appeal because it’s an every-family story. Per noi, the real message is one of family understanding and underlying love. We hope that Miracolo! can remind everyone, including those of us who have grown up with other traditions, that at all times, including those of momentary frustration and irritation, it is with kindness and generosity and tolerance that we should treat those whom we love the best.
C. M. Rubin è l'autore della serie on-line molto letto, Il Global Ricerca per l'Educazione, ed è anche autore di tre libri bestseller, Compreso The Real Alice in Wonderland.
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