Singers from Opera Otago performed a half-hour show at eight schools this week, finishing the production at Opoho School yesterday.
Titled Goldilocks a la Mozart, the show was a combination of modern lyrics and classical Mozart.
Opera Otago chairman Rhys Thorn said it could be difficult to introduce children to the world of opera.
Opera could be seen as elitist and most children would not want to watch a show that went on for hours.
By focusing on accessibility, children could have their first taste of opera in a fun environment, he said.
Using a familiar story allowed the children to follow along while enjoying the performance.
The main plot of the fable was kept the same, but new elements were added, such as Baby Bear’s fondness for his iPad.
The production, written by New Zealand composer William Green, was the perfect way to capture children’s interest and potentially inspire a future opera star, Mr Thorn said.
Mozart, while still classical, had a fun and bubbly tone to it that children could enjoy,
Aside from their singing talents, the performers were chosen for their age and personalities which children would find easy to relate to, he said.
Children were asked to count how many times the word ‘‘bear’’ was sung throughout the performance (six times) and encouraged to ask questions about the opera after the show.
‘‘I actually like cornflakes more than porridge,’’ Mama Bear actress Clare Lewis revealed to the children during the Q&A.
