Children and opera. Not a bad combination at all. At least The Finnish National Opera is currently doing a lot to take care of the special needs and interests of its youngest visitors. There are First Taste of Opera & Ballet workshops for babies and special events and suitable performances for bigger children and their families.
By writing the children’s book The Mouse of the Opera, I wanted to do my share to increase interest and create curiosity among the young, potential opera audience. This book expresses also my appreciation for my home opera house. My seasonal ticket - for a quarter of a century already - has given me the opportunity to see, hear and enjoy a lot!
As a child, my first and only opera experience was The Magic Flute by Mozart, at Savonlinna Opera Festival in Eastern Finland. I can still recall the Queen of the Night, Birgit Nilsson, singing high up on the castle wall and charming the whole audience. As a student, I could afford only the last-minute seats and student tickets for the performances at the old opera house at Bulevardi, Helsinki. Despite the pillars blocking part of the view, it was enjoyable!
The final inspiration for The Mouse of the Opera came actually from a scared little mouse, whom I met one opera evening, sitting still like a stone in front of the main doors of the opera house. My imagination started immediately creating a story of what might have happened, if it had managed to get inside, through the high glass doors. My story tells about this. Of course, there is a much more famous example, The Phantom of the Opera. But even a tiny mouse can cause quite a turbulence, at least in a children’s book.
Please, close your mobile phones and enjoy the performance!
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)