Opera for Kids:
RICORDI publishes the works of the Taschenoper Lübeck

Making sure the musical-cultural gem of opera is also accessible for kids – this was the vision of married couple Margrit Dürr and Julian Metzger; and in 2005, in collaboration with the Theater Lübeck, the Taschenoper represented the emergence of this vision as a reality. From that point on, it has offered the “little people” among us a child-friendly approach to opera, hence ensuring that already today, the target group of tomorrow has access to the opera.

Since it was distinguished with the music prize of the Rheingau Musik Festival in 2010, this idea has been the center of focus for a number of foundations and music lovers as well as for the Ministry of Education and Culture in the German federated state of Schleswig-Holstein.

What sets apart the Taschenoper Lübeck is that the great operas, while prepared in a child-friendly way, are carried out such that they do not lose any of their connection with the original or even the respect they hold within the greater musical world. Operas up to three hours long are altered to a child-friendly duration of 60-75 minutes by shortening the spoken text and using a less extensively orchestrated ensemble. The opera, however, still continues achieving the highest musical niveau. With that, young viewers six years of age and up can be sparked with enthusiasm not only by the fanciful costumes and stage props but also as they are interactively pulled into the plotline. In all this, the setting, rather than rigidly remaining limited to the walls of the opera house, is instead brought where the children are – with the aid of mobile stage design. The Taschenoper Lübeck uses this method of presentation to carry out performances both in schools and at well-known festivals. Thus children are brought into the world of opera, particularly those who otherwise have no access to it because of less art-conscious surroundings.

The Taschenoper Lübeck will be integrated into the catalogue of the Ricordi publishing house as of 2013, hence allowing the greater international public access to this concept.

www.taschenoper-luebeck.de