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Watson students sing praises of opera program
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After exposing the children of Watson to a new musical experience, the staff of Opera Western Reserve was all smiles. From left, pianist Karen Lyn Fisher, and singers Shafica Kaleel, Max Pivik, and Robert Pierce.
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Each singer acted out two arias for the students and asked them to choose which one they prefer. Here, singer Shafica Kaleel played the part of a lovelorn Italian youth.
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The children preferred when singer Max Pivik acted out the part of a goofy Italian character.
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Robert Pierce, a baritone with Opera Western Reserve, showed the children of Watson how he used his body to act out what is happening in an opera.
By SARAH FOOR
Singers from the Opera of Western Reserve taught students and staff of Watson Elementary about the history and practices of modern opera Nov. 23.
The Opera of Western Reserve has sponsored these school outreach programs for six years, and the purpose, as explained by singer Max Pivik in his introduction, is to “expose beautiful music to you students, that you’ve probably never heard, but maybe you’ll want to listen to more after our program.”
To make opera appreciated by the younger crowd, singers Pivik, Shafica Kaleel, and Robert Peirce sang jolly selections from German, Italian, and French operas and then let the students make up the story of their very own opera. This special Watson opera centered on a Thanksgiving dinner, with three characters — a nervous host, a starving guest and an excitable football player.
Before and after the hilarious opera, the singers shared facts about how the music, costumes, and singers in operas come together for performances.
After a presentation filled with claps and bravos, the singers asked the students: “Do you think opera is fun now?” The students answered with a resounding “Yes!”