SF Opera Guild Visits Coronado!

      Last Thursday, November 18^th students at ETM Bay-Area partner school Coronado Elementary were treated to a very special performance of Rossini’s La Cenerentola. As part of the guild’s “Opera a la Carte ” program, a cast of five professional singers joined several Coronado students to present an adapted, English-language version of the classic Cinderella tale. “I’ve always wanted to know what an opera was like, and now I do.” said sixth grade student Kalin. “I really enjoyed myself.”

Early in the fall, students auditioned and were chosen for one of eight roles. Students rehearsed several times a week after-school with long-term substitute teacher Mrs. Harris and curriculum director Norah Moore to memorize lines and hone their acting skills. “Mrs. Harris is an amazing director, who has always gotten superb performances out of our students,” said Ms. Moore, who also introduced a bit of the plot and various vocabulary words from the opera at several school assemblies all fall.

Students also studied opera in their music classes, learning the difference between aria and recitative or, in some cases, putting on their own small opera. Ms. Chamberlin’s 5^th/6^th grade class even memorized a song and performed as part of the chorus. Sixth grader Kristen played Clorinda, one of the evil stepsisters. “I learned that when you want to be an opera singer, it takes a lot. You have to train for a while and learn different languages.”

            Each of the professionals with the guild expressed how glad they were to be able to perform in this community and how impressed they were by the student’s performance. Several parents were in attendance as well. Candy Granados, parent of first grader Wallace, was grateful for the experience. “I’ve always wanted to see an opera and you’ve made my dream come true.” Thanks to the efforts of ETM-Bay Area, Opera a la Carte also visited Wilson Elementary this September and will travel to Peres Elementary later this week.