Lights, Action, Character! Student Activity Sheets

Dear Teacher:

You have received a booklet for each student in your classroom. If not, please inquire in the office.

The information and activities here can be used both before and after the performance. Please encourage the students to take the booklet home and share it with their parents and other family members. This continues our work and reflects favorably upon your school's efforts to provide enriching experiences.

In your classroom, we think it would be excellent to have the students discuss their reactions and do the activities in the booklet. You may also refer to our Web site (www.sierrachamberopera.org) where you will find more interesting and child-appropriate Internet links.

Please emphasize the importance of not talking during the live performance of the show. Quietly sitting and listening is good audience behavior. By all means, laugh when something is funny. It is intended for your enjoyment. And please encourage your students to laugh, clap, or even yell "Bravo" at the end of the opera.

Interesting Background Information

The music of the opera is taken from Les Bavards (The Chatterboxes), an operetta by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880), a French composer of German origin. The phenomenal success of his 96 operettas made Offenbach a pioneer in the field and paved the way for further work in this genre by Strauss, Sullivan, Lehar, Victor Herbert and others, as well as, eventually, American musical comedy. His operettas were produced in many different countries and at one time played to sold-out audiences in three Paris theaters simultaneously. They are still given today, although Offenbach is now best remembered for his grand opera, The Tales of Hoffman, which is a staple item in opera houses throughout the world.

Offenbach's work has much in common with the music of Gilbert and Sullivan, which we have used in three recent operas starring the four chefs. Both feature exhilarating, tuneful music and satirical plots.

How is an operetta different from an opera? Although it is often considered simply that the operetta contains spoken dialogue and grand opera does not, it is actually more than that. (Some grand operas have dialogue and some rock musical theater shows do not!) Probably the most consistent difference is that operettas use lighter music which is immediately understandable by mass audiences. This is one of the elements that helped make operettas smash hits in their day.

Remarkably, the "light" music used has in time proved to be substantial enough in quality that it is equally pleasing to modern-day audiences. For this reason, it is now considered "classical."

Discussion Topics:

What did you like best about the opera?
What is the main idea of the story?
Who was your favorite character?
What are some good character traits?
What is one thing you could do that would improve your character?
Did you hear the singers mention good things that you are already doing? Do you think it would be fun to do an opera? Why?
What was your favorite part of the show?

Answers:

page 1: HONESTY

page 2: Vocabulary Fun: G-1; D-2; E-3; A-4; I-5; H-6; J-7; B-8; F-9; C-10

page 3: Word Scramble: honest, respect, polite, citizen, school, thought, courage, rules, truth, responsibility, youth, teacher, reliable, goals, trustworthy, kindness, dignity, environment, community, character, actions, and self discipline;

page 4, Upper Grade Vocabulary: 1-T; 2-M; 3-G; 4-A; 5-O; 6-C; 7-L; 8-V; 9-R; 10-F; 11-X; 12-I; 13-E; 14-D; 15-W; 16-H; 17-B; 18-J; 19-Q; 20-K; 21-Z; 22-N; 23-P; 24-U; 25-S; 26-Y

Are you interested in knowing more about opera?

Sierra Chamber Opera offers a 45-minute program that tells more about the opera we are performing this season and about opera in general. One or two of our singers will come into your classroom or teachers' meeting and sing, lecture and answer your questions! Call Barbara at (559) 970-6132 for times, dates and costs.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Kathy Barba, Carol Blore, Carl Nuss, Alan Rea, Rebecca Sarkisian, Barbara Vlymen,
booklet text and layout

Susan Liberty, SCO scrapbook

Rebecca Sarkisian, newsletter editor

Doris Hall, page design

Alan Rea, Barbara Vlymen, booklet distribution

Marcella Oneida, seamstress

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, rehearsal space

Mary Ann Stites, CPA, computer bookkeeper

Kathy Barba, Tracy Jones, Carl Nuss, Rebecca Sarkisian, Kelly Scott, Barbara Vlymen
hospitality

David Sarkisian, Robert Ware, videotaping

Michael Webb, sound equipment consultation

Rebecca Sarkisian, Genta Sebastian, publicity

Genta Sebastian, Web site design

Michael Barba, Kathy Barba, Facebook page

Banners in booklet by Jane Cleave

Sierra Chamber Opera is grateful to Target Stores for helping make this booklet available to members of our audiences.

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