Summary
My first opera for babies
Audience: ages 0 to 4, with their parents
Running time: 25 minutes, followed by a short chat
Capacity: 25 babies maximum, as the show is interactive
One soprano, with recorded accompaniment or live instrumentalists on request
Light set and sound system provided; performance space of 3 x 4 metres
The story
The sun is shining on Papagena’s garden. Here she is, waking up! She stretches, yawns, opens one eye and, full of life, sets off to discover everything around her… Soon the rain spoils her walk: the colours fade and the music of nature changes. How will Papagena adapt? At last the sun returns and, with it, the garden comes back to life. Our young friend may even end up finding some playmates!
Babblings of contemporary music, the deep emotions of Mozart’s arias, games of hide-and-seek to excerpts from Pergolesi… Papagena shares her feelings with the very young through some of the most beautiful pages of classical music.
An opera for babies – really?
Rich in sounds, rhythms and emotions, classical music is a precious friend for the very young. Snuggled in reassuring arms, they share a true moment of pleasure with the adult beside them.
The show was devised with professionals: neuropsychologist Catherine Thomas-Antérion, Dr Brault, head of the neonatal unit at Argenteuil Hospital, as well as childminders and early-years managers. The costumes were made by students on the DNMADE performing-arts costume course in Cannes.
Created in 2019, it has now been performed more than 200 times all over France.
Repertoire
Mozart (La Tartine de beurre; “Vedrai, carino” and “Batti, batti”, Don Giovanni; “Pa-pa-pa”, The Magic Flute), Bernstein (Piccola Serenata; Silhouette), Vivaldi (“Storm”, The Four Seasons), Saint-Saëns (Aquarium, The Carnival of the Animals), Pergolesi (“Stizzoso, mio stizzoso”, La serva padrona), Humperdinck (The Dew Fairy, Hansel and Gretel), Massenet (“Du gai soleil”, Werther)
The performers
Claire Lairy – Holder of the Diplôme supérieur de concertiste from the École normale de musique de Paris and a prizewinner in international competitions, including first prize at the Béziers competition in 2018. She portrays Montserrat Caballé in “The World of Queen”, touring arenas across France and Europe.
Fanny Crouet – Trained in violin, singing and drama in Vienna, Munich and Paris, she performs as a soloist at the Opéra de Tours, the Opéra de Massy and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. Her recording of songs by Léo Delibes received the Orphée d’Or from the Académie du Disque Lyrique.
“A wonderfully colourful show!” – Agathe Lecaron, La Maison des maternelles
