Rumpelstiltskin

A classroom guide for teachers

WHAT IS OPERA?

Most people think opera is a big lady, wearing horns, singing in a loud voice. But, opera is SO much more than just the fat lady in horns! Opera is a story told through music. The music is accompanied by an orchestra. Opera singers have a special timbre (color or quality) to their voices that makes them able to project their voices over an orchestra. They do not use microphones! Opera singers train for many years in order to be able to sing like this. And, most opera singers are in excellent physical shape.

Opera began in Italy when a group of artists formed a group called the Florentine Camerata. Over the last few centuries, opera has evolved throughout the world. It is probably so popular and exciting because it is an art form that combines visual art (sets, costumes), drama (the story, acting), dance (sometimes even a full ballet) and music (the orchestra, the singing). Opera stories are based on myths, folktales, great works of literature, biblical stories, fantasy, and real-life stories. Operas are written in many languages; the most popular are Italian, German and French. Operas are also written in English, Czech, Russian, and Mandarin Chinese. Most opera houses use super titles, which are like captions for opera. Even if you don’t speak the language of the opera, you will know what is going on by watching the super titles above the stage.

Singers who perform in operas have different voice types. For women, these types are Soprano (high), Mezzo-soprano (medium), and Contralto (low). For men, Tenor (high), Baritone (medium), and Bass (low) are the names of voice types. Principals are the singers who have “named” roles such as Pamina in The Magic Flute or Mimì in La bohème. In Rumpelstiltskin students will meet singers who have most of these voice types.

The group of singers who assist the action are called the Chorus. Sometimes, a children’s chorus helps to tell the story (Carmen, Turandot). Most operas also use Supernumeraries or “supers”. These actors do not sing but serve an important purpose on stage by telling the story as extras in the opera (just like in a movie). Rumpelstiltskin was created to tour to schools and community centers, so there is no chorus or supernumeraries. When you attend Student Night At The Opera (dress rehearsals for San Diego Opera’s main stage), you will see larger productions with many choristers and supernumeraries.

The stage director and the music director or conductor are needed to help the singers with the music and tell them how to move on stage. A costume designer creates and builds the costumes that the singers, dancers and supernumeraries will wear. The set designer creates what the set will look like and the lighting designer helps create the desired mood or effect using special lights. All of the designers work as a team to help to create an opera.

Opera is special because it takes so many people to make it work. All of these elements put together make opera a spectacle for your eyes AND ears. Now that you know what opera is, let’s find out more about Rumpelstiltskin!

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