This February marked the return of one of Meet the Music (MTM)’s most anticipated program highlights–our annual partnership with the LA Opera. Over the course of a week, all of our participating 4th and 5th grade students were invited to enjoy a youth-oriented adaptation of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, set during the American Revolution and renamed Figaro’s American Adventure. It’s a tale of Figaro’s journey to colonial America where he supports General Washington’s revolution while getting into comic adventures along the way. Through this light-hearted musical celebration, students encountered themes of women’s rights and the importance of never giving up even in the face of enormous challenges. These themes were reinforced during an inspiring live Q&A session between students and cast members. For instance, bass-baritone Cedric Berry (portraying the antagonist “Dr. Bartolo”) told students about his own musical journey and explained that everyone, even professional musicians, occasionally make mistakes and feel insecure on stage; rather than being discouraged, these setbacks are how artists perfect their craft.
Students also learned about the variety of jobs that go into making an opera–from librettist, to set and costume designer, to choreographer–sparking greater awareness of the many career pathways in the performing arts. We are deeply grateful for our partnership with LA Opera Connects–LA Opera’s youth and community engagement program–and look forward to our next engagement in winter 2023!
Meet the Music Online Staff and Artists from Top Left Clockwise: Tony Rasmussen, Lupe Montiel, Cedric Berry, and Kindra Scharich.
Photo Credit: LA Opera Connects
