Opera is just a story with music, Tri-Cities Opera singers told us, but there was nothing ordinary about “Papagayo,” a children’s opera recently staged at OV for some of our youngest Vikings.
Four professional opera singers – some in costume and some behind puppets – told the story of Papagayo, a sometimes annoying parrot who bothered night creatures just trying to rest. But when Moon Dog put their real moon in danger, Papagayo saved the day.
Compelling operatic voices and a changeable set told this Puerto Rican folktale in a way that celebrated differences and showed how all can work together to make things better. It was a little spooky and a lot surprising because you just don’t expect to see puppets that vivid… and who knew human vocals could do all that?!
The artists’ amazing voices filled the entire MPR: a young mezzo-soprano, soprano, baritone, and tenor showed that no, you don’t need microphones to project words and sound into the farthest corners of very big rooms. They showed you can also do two things at the same time: tell a story with full-body acting even while singing.
Not every student has an opportunity to hear live, classical opera, but our Vikings did!
This production was part of OV Arts in Education programming through the Opera-Go-Round company (a part of the Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton). They have been delivering children’s opera to public schools for nearly 50 years by breaking down assumptions about music, acting, and storytelling.
Many thanks to Ms. Lawrence and the Arts In Education Committee for providing remarkable enrichment to our students throughout the year. Thanks, too, to Opera-Go-Round for taking us to the rainforest (“Cow, cow, cow, cow…”).
[“Papagayo” words by Edward Barnes. Copyright 1998 by MMB Music, Inc. Copyright assigned in 2008 to Lauren Keiser Music Publishing (ASCAP). Based on Papagayo, The Mischief Maker by Gerald McDermott, copyright 1992, 1980 by Gerald McDermott Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers. Used by permission.]