This French visual production, which is staging shows at the weekend, hosted a session today for 1,500 school students

 

The Auditorio de Tenerife is presenting a unique family opera, The Child and the Spells (L'enfant et les sortilèges)by the renowned French composer Maurice Ravel. This visually captivating show has two performances this weekend: Saturday (20th) at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday (21st) at noon. This title, brought to you by the Ópera de Tenerife, is a production by the prestigious Opéra National de Lyon and involves the collaboration of the esteemed Auditori de Barcelona.

In addition to the public shows, today (18th), a session was held for schools, which over 1,500 pupils attended. The 24 participating schools belong to nine municipalities on the island: Candelaria, Garachico, Granadilla de Abona, La Orotava, La Victoria de Acentejo, Los Realejos, Puerto de la Cruz, San Cristóbal de La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The regional minister of Culture, José Carlos Acha, thanked the teachers and pupils for their effort to come to the Auditorio de Tenerife and highlighted the importance of these types of initiatives. "Opera is an important pillar of our programming and also of educational work; shows like this combine these two objectives."

"Seeing the hall packed with spectators under the age of 12 is a commitment to the future", adds the minister, who believes that "many of them are coming to the Auditorium for the first time and are potential consumers of culture over the coming years". Acha also highlights the response obtained in the shows over the weekend for families receiving an excellent reception from our audience.

The work recounts the story of a disobedient child in Normandy whose mother decides to punish him after he fails to fulfil his obligations. Faced with this situation, the boy destroys all the objects around him, hits his animals, and falls asleep after his tantrum. When the boy wakes up, everything around him comes to life, and he returns the treatment he received in a nightmarish situation.

In 1916, the French director Jacques Rouché suggested to the novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette that she should write a ballet. The writer created the story Entertainment for my daughter (Divertissement pour ma fille) and suggested that Ravel write the score. Nine years later—including the composer's military service—the production premiered on 21 March 1925 in Montecarlo as the first opera for children in the history of music.

The cast is led by mezzo-soprano Na'ama Goldman, who plays the child protagonist. She is accompanied by mezzo-sopranos Karina Demurova and Blanca Valido, who play the mother and the squirrel, respectively, and other roles. The remaining roles are played by sopranos Beatriz Díaz and Natalia Labourdette, tenor David Barrera, baritone Milán Perišić and bass Aleksandr Utkin.

The performance of the solo singers will be accompanied by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the musical director, Jordi Francés, and by the choir Ópera de Tenerife-Intermezzo, conducted by Pablo Moras. The musical edition that will be performed belongs to Durand S. A. (Paris).

James Bonas direct the French production. The director defines the piece as a work "that shifts between the extraordinary libretto by Colette and the inspired and challenging music of Ravel". Alongside Grégoire Pont, who is behind the concept and the video, and Thibault Vancraenenbroeck, stage and costume designer, Bonas created a floating and transparent screen measuring 11 metres long and 7.5 metres high for spectators to enjoy Pont's designs and the orchestra on stage. "All of this is achieved in 45 minutes and 22 amazing scenes", states the director, who has Christophe Chaupin in charge of lighting design.

The Educational and Social Department of the Auditorio de Tenerife has prepared an educational guide, which can be found on the website, to further explore this family opera. This is a practical document that has been created thinking about classes and families to display a great range around this children's show including adapted information, games and other activities.

The tickets for the opera can be purchased at a single price of €10 and 5 euros for the audience under 30 years of age on the website www.auditoriodetenerife.com, at the auditorium's box office, or by dialling the phone number 902 317 327 from Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.