Description

• Little Red Riding Hood Opera
• Sheet music on CD or Music download of Opera for Kids
  
• 5 characters
  
• 4 singers
  
• Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Hasse,
  Georg Philipp Telemann, Giuseppe Orlandini, Francesco Gasparini and others.
  
• 30 minutes in length
• The opera music is in PDF form on a CD. The purchase of the CD includes license to print up 5 copies; one for each singer and the pianist.

Little Red Riding Hood: A Pasticcio Opera for Children

A Masterful Blend of Mozart and Baroque Classics

This charming 30-minute adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood serves as a vibrant “pasticcio.” It artfully weaves together the elegance of the 18th century to create a perfect “starter opera” for young audiences. Furthermore, the score blends Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s playful melodic wit with the dramatic flair of Baroque masters. Specifically, it uses the rhythmic energy of Johann Adolph Hasse, Georg Philipp Telemann, Francesco Gasparini, and Giuseppe Maria Orlandini to underscore the story’s most iconic moments. These musical highlights range from Red’s jaunty walk through the woods to the Wolf’s sly, comedic scheming. Consequently, this stylistic variety keeps the pacing brisk. This ensures that the musical language remains engaging for shorter attention spans while maintaining the grandeur of the operatic tradition.

An Accessible “Singspiel” Introduction to Opera

To bridge the gap between the stage and the seats, the performance utilizes a Singspiel-style format. This means it alternates between lush musical numbers and accessible spoken dialogue in English. Additionally, this approach removes the barrier of a foreign language. As a result, children can follow the plot’s twists and turns with ease while the music provides the emotional “colors” of the characters. The production also emphasizes interactivity and physical comedy. For example, it turns the Wolf’s aria into a moment of playful suspense and the Grandmother’s rescue into a triumphant ensemble finale. By presenting opera as a lively, story-driven experience, this pastiche successfully introduces the next generation to the magic of the human voice and the timeless beauty of the classical era.