The Year 5 Opera Kids Project has been a rich and inspiring experience that has accompanied our students throughout much of the academic year. We began this journey with a guided visit to the Teatro Real, where pupils had the unique opportunity to explore from the inside what makes an opera house distinct from other types of theatres or auditoriums.
During the visit, students discovered the fascinating diversity of opera houses around the world, recognising their architectural features as well as the careful design considerations that ensure the specific acoustics required for this type of performance. They also learned about the highly specialised craftsmanship involved in opera production, including costume design, characterisation, footwear, wigs, stage sets, and all the elements that combine to create what Richard Wagner famously described as a “total work of art”.
In music lessons during Term 2, students began to understand and experience the fundamentals of opera singing technique, focusing on posture, breathing, and vocal projection. At the same time, they learned to sing the choruses of five arias from L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti, performing them in Italian, just as in the original musical score.
Professional opera singers from the company Más que Ópera visited the school on two occasions to work closely with the students on staging, choreography, and other performance details, helping them prepare for their final showcase.
Alongside this practical work, pupils explored the origins of opera, different types and styles within the genre, vocal ranges, the life of Gaetano Donizetti, and the story of L’elisir d’amore. This combination of practical and contextual learning gave them a well-rounded understanding of opera as an art form.
In May, we welcomed parents of each Year 5 class to three open lessons, where students proudly shared what they had learned and even invited their families to join them in singing opera.
The project reached a wonderful climax with a live performance at the Teatro EDP Gran Vía, where students had the unforgettable experience of joining professional soloists on stage. Accompanied by a live orchestra and performing in front of their families, they sang their choruses as part of the opera, bringing this extraordinary journey to a truly memorable close.
It has been a real pleasure to see how the students have engaged with this project and grown in confidence as performers. Opera Kids has provided a valuable context for bringing together everything explored in Music lessons, culminating in a shared experience on stage that they will hopefully remember for years to come.
Ms Fernández
