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Wednesday May 21, 1:47 AMSingapore Lyric Opera aims to demystify opera with more shows for childrenSINGAPORE: The Singapore Lyric Opera wants to demystify opera for children and it is using its young stars to do the convincing in its latest production.The classic children's story 'The Wind in the Willows' is not a typical opera, but its musical version is aimed at children aged seven and above. It is part of the Singapore Lyric Opera's Children's Entertainment Series, which wants to get more youngsters into the theatre and on stage. It conducted auditions in the past few weeks and hope to nearly double the children's choir from 40 to 70 members. Ng Siew Eng, General Manager, Singapore Lyric Opera, said: "The children will learn to sing properly. They learn to be confident. And when they go on stage, they are able to learn about themselves and about others as well." And that's what 12-year-old Joelle Quek has learnt since joining the Singapore Lyric Opera Children's Choir when it was formed in August 2006. She has been rehearsing everyday for the past two weeks. She said: "I joined because I love singing and I love acting. I love it because it allows you to express your emotions through song and dance, which is not something you do everyday." Some 40 children, aged seven to 12, are performing in this production. But the five principal characters are former and current students from LaSalle College of the Arts. Michael Corbridge, Director of 'Wind in the Willows' and 'The Reluctant Dragon' said that the young cast brings the production alive. He said: "They've got a different energy (compared) to adult actors and singers. They've got a real honesty and they get it. There's a different kind of integrity and I think people really love to see them perform because when they're really good, it's astounding that they've achieved so much in such a short space of time." The double-bill production features half-hour performances of 'The Wind in the Willows' and 'The Reluctant Dragon'. It runs from May 22 to 24. Both stories were written by the British author Kenneth Grahame. The production is part of Encore! The European Season. The Singapore Lyric Opera first put on this show in 2007 at the Esplanade Recital Studio. It proved a hit as a sell-out, so it is back by popular demand. However, this time it would be performed at the Victoria Theatre on a bigger scale and with more seats in the auditorium. - CNA/vm
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