The Mommy Files | an SFGate.com blog: Last year when my daughter was 8 years old, I took her to the San Francisco Opera’s shortened version of Carmen for families. She was enchanted by the elaborate costumes, the richly textured voices and the bustling pageantry, and when I tucked her into bed that night she was humming Bizet’s beloved aria Habanera.
She was thrilled—yet also irritated because she didn’t get to see the full performance and missed an entire act. She felt cheated.
12 comments:
This is truly a fascinating story. I love the fact that this little girl loves opera and I sincerely hope this love and passion takes her to someplace great. However, I am fairly certain, this young lady is an expection within her age group. I am currently in a theater outreach program in which we work with students who age from eight to nine. It takes all my effort to get these students to sit for five minutes and listen to me, let alone a two and a half hour show. The mother had the right idea taking her daughter to the shortened version of Carmen first. And I think this is a good idea for all families because young children should be exposed to the arts. It allows them to see what can be done creatively and you never know when that one performance may change the child's dream profession.
Im so glad to hear that someone of such a young age is so appreciative of the theatre. Its very refreshing. Props to the mom for agreeing to take her out. I fear that in todays world of the instant access to so many forms of entertainment right in the palm of your hands literally, things such as operas and theatre are on their way to being a dying race of entertainment. The only way to prevent that from happening is to get young people interested, especially concerning the opera whose audience is usually of an older crowed who might not still be around in 30 years. I think that is horrible that the mom and daughter got disapproving looks from the other much older patrons. While I agree that a screaming child can be rather annoying during a performance, she was acting even more respectable than the rude theatre-goers around her. While I don't think that we should be forcing children to go to shows, i believe that if they show any interest that it should be strongly encouraged. I dont think having an appreciation for art should only be allowed in a certain age range.
I agree with the previous commenters. I think it's great that this mom was willing to take her daughter to the opera at such a young age. Opera's main audience is older patrons, but who knows what will happen when those patrons inevitably begin to die? Are there going to be any patrons to fill the void they leave behind?
I wish more young people had a love of the arts. I also think it's a gross generalization to say that all young people are unable to sit through a 2.5 hour show. It's a generation gap. When I was growing up my parents taught me how to sit calmly and enjoy a long movie, or a play. They taught me how to sit quietly and entertain myself while they appreciated such things. It seems to be a skill today's youth hasn't been taught. I applaud the mom who embraced her daughter's desire to see an opera, and helped teach her how to behave in such a situation. It's a art that is being lost today.
It's quite posible that I teared up a bit upon reading this article, which is really saying something considering it's a proven fact that I never cry.
I know that it's quite possible that this will sound really pretentious, but I was very much so that little girl. My parents had me pretty late in life and they are big patrons of the arts so they took me to all kinds of stuff - ballet, opera, theatre, fancy restaurants, museums, etc. I definitely got the kind of reactions that this mother describes. I don't particularly like kids, but I think they deserve respect just like everyone else when they attend these kind of events. How else are we going to get new generations interested in art - especially more archaic art forms (like opera) - without inspiring kids to go and see it.
Wow! I myself find it increasingly difficult to sit through operas, and it's impressive that this nine-year-old could do it and enjoy it. I agree that is it so important to have young people get involved in the arts and see the beauty in theatre or opera, and the fact that people who are older are looking down on something like this is disgraceful. How can art continue if we exclude younger people from enjoying it?
I loved this story. It just gave me hope that love for something that is not pop culture and technology is still out there and growing. I know I struggle with appreciating the old and more importantly sitting through the old. The mom of this article should get huge props for educating her daughter in opera. Also that little girl sounds amazing and I pray that my kids might have some of this girls desires. Maybe the little girl will inspire some of her friends to try the opera.
This story was great to read. It's refreshing to read about a child who doesn't just want the newest iPhone or go to a Justin Bieber concert (no offense if you like Justin Bieber...). What's really sad to read about, though, are the reactions from the older patrons when they saw this 9-year old. She wasn't being disruptive or rude in any way, yet people were annoyed that a child was somehow interrupting their evening out at the opera.
In order to survive, opera needs children like this, and mothers who are willing to take their kids to something as unfamiliar as the opera. I hope that regular opera-goers can get over the idea of some kind of exclusivity in the opera world. A 9-year old should have the same right as an 89-year old to watch an opera without feeling out of place or like they are being looked down on.
I truly enjoyed reading this story. I think that nine is a great age to get kids involved in live performance because it is before the age that they get to syndical and they are still young enough to be full of wonder and amazement. I was sad to read the end though and find out about all the people that thought that it was not right of this woman to take her young daughter to the opera. There is a lot of ageism in our society. The young are constantly looked down upon and belittled. Even today I was on the bus and a woman was complaining about all the college kids on the bus and how disrespectful they were. I feel people often don’t give the young credit for what they can handle and how aware they are. Sure some are not but I believe as a whole they are.
This probably the cutest story I've read in a while. I'm so glad that there are still kids who like going to see real theater. I totally relate to this girl, I swear, I was her. I can't help but wonder what she'll be. I wonder if she'll become an actress, like most girls tend to want to do or if she'll become a designer or manager of some sort. Maybe she'll just be a frequent visitor. Either way, I'm glad that someone so young is so enthusiastic about theater and I hope she per sues it. I'm only sorry that she's probably not like most girls her age. I wish her the best of luck!
This article definitely made me smile. People say the word opera and most grimace. To see that a young girl of 9 fell in love with this art form touched my heart. To see that her mother completely supported her, moved me even further. So many parents seem to support only what they want their children to do. This mom supported her daughter even though she herself had never been to an opera. I love the fact that this mom was so willing to nurture her daughters obvious passion. I had many friends in high school that wanted to go into theatre, but their parents did not support them at all. They were told that they would not pay for their college if they picked that for their major. It was too risky of a career and they would never make it. How could someone not do what they feel they are called to do? I felt like I had no choice but to do what I am doing now. This is my passion and if my parents hadn't supported me, i would have been devastated. As for the people at the opera who didn't like children being there.......all I can say is get over it! To the mother........ I say Brava!!!
This little girl and others like herself are exactly what Opera needs. If children start going to dance lessons and ballets at the age of 5 years, why can't she enjoy the Opera at 9. I loved this article and I applaud her mum, for sharing her story and also for encouraging her daughter's interest. Opera costumes are pretty and that would get many young girls' interests who like to dress up and look pretty. To then further enjoy the opera is fantastic. It is sad that the older audience members would scorn her, but not shocking. It is like the woman who brings her crying baby to church and the people who give her bad looks because they can't hear the Sermon. She is introducing and probably creating an interest in an art form that not many children like or are interested in. When the older generations have passed on, children like her daughter will replace them in the seats as the faithful Opera goers or her daughter may even be an Opera singer or actress.
This reminds me of the article I previously commented on about Susan Danis and her efforts with Opera companies and this hits straight home on the importance of making Opera more available to younger audience. This is the only way that it can survive.
I loved this story! I can definitely relate to the daughter. I first became interested in opera when I bought a pair of Lemaire opera glasses from the 1940s at a good will. They are made of brass, and I was fascinated at how clear an image you can see. I decided to look up opera's at the library and found Turandot and Carment in the DVD section. I took them home, and was absolutely amazed by the sets, lighting, costumes, and singing. Then, I went on youtube and found Puccini in Turandot, and I absolutely fell in love. My mom bought me tickets to see Orpheo e Eurydice at the AZ Opera, and I got dressed up and brought my glasses. I felt so special, and I too was the youngest person in the audience. This story touched my heart, because I feel like my story is very similar. The only scary thought is that most of the opera viewers are old. Very few young people go to the opera, so the question is, will opera die in the nearby future?
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