World's Very Best Opera for Kids...In English

The World's Very Best Opera for Kids...in English 
By Avery MacLean
Teacher's Guide Book and CD
48 pages; approx. 72 min. CD
For grades 2 - 8

14 best-loved opera arias, performed in English and featuring some of the world's finest opera stars and rising stars. Enjoy works from some of the most popular - and important - operas, from a wide range of genres,eras, and composers.

The teacher guide includes complete English lyrics, composer biographies, an introduction to each of the featured operas, character sketches, story synopses, suggested lesson plans, individual and group activities, assessment and evaluation summaries, a glossary, and a pronunciation guide. Based on the National Standards for Arts Education.

The included CD also has 5 bonus instrumental-only "karaoke-style" tracks for sing-along or performance. CD liner notes includesinformation on the story of each opera, English lyrics for each aria, and brief notes on the performers.

Teacher guide contents:
How to Use This Guide.
The Barber of Seville (Rossini) - summary, composer biography, La Prima Performance, Going to the Opera, Setting the Scene- Figaro, Figaro's Role in the Drama, & information on Largo alfactotum.
Carmen (Bizet): summary, composer biography, Gypsies & Bohemians, French Opera, Carmen & Escamillo, Escamillo's aria.
The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart): summary, composer biography, inspiration for the opera, style of the costumes & scenery, Figaro's Return, Cherubino's Role in the Opera, Cherubino/ Adonis/& Narcissus, Non piu andrai, A Soprano Trouser Role, Voi che sapete- The Structure of an Aria, Those Troublesome Singers, Susanna's Guitar, Mozart's Original Manuscript (photo).
The Magic Flute (Mozart): summary, More About Mozart, Staging The Magic Flute, Opposites Attract, Schikaneder & Karl Thomas Mozart, Coloratura, The Queen of the Night, Papageno.
La Boheme (Puccini): summary,composer biography, The Bohemian Life, The Heroine, Setting the Scene, & information on the style of the opera and Mimi's aria.
Rigoletto (Verdi): summary, composer biography, The Romantic Era- A Time of Change, Gilda's Role in the Drama, Steam Engines & Opera, Staging 19th Century Operas, The Duke of Mantua, Gilda's Story so Far, Audience Reception, Composers & Publishers, The Duke- Tenor/Hero or Tenor/Villain, Music & Math- Musical Inversion.
Tales of Hoffman (Offenbach): summary, composer biography, E.T.A. Hoffman & Opera Fantastique, Olympia the Doll, The Libretto, French Opera in the 21st Century, A Coloratura Soprano.
Die Walkure (Wagner): summary, composer biography, Inspiration for DerRing des Nibelungen, The Original "Wall of Sound", The Valkyries, The New Role of the Composer, A Legend in His Own Time, Wagner's New Opera House- Festpielhaus.
Madame Butterfly (Puccini): summary, More about Puccini, Setting the Stage,Orientalism, Butterfly's Aria, Our Heroine, Opening Night at La Scala, An Illustrated Madame Butterfly c.1903 (photos).
Xerxes (Handel): summary, composer biography, For Older Students- Castrati, Ancient Persia, Love Song to a Tree?, Handel's Largo- Ombra mai fu, Castrati as Rock Stars. Discussion/ Activities/ & Review (divided into sections for appropriate grade levels).

Reproducible Pages: Mapping the World of Opera, Who's Who in Opera, A Snapshot in Time (timeline),Student Evaluation, Suggested Lesson Plans, English Lyrics Sheets.Glossary Pronunciation Guide References & Resources Bibliography. 

CD contents:
The Barber of Seville (Rossini): Figaro- Largo al factotum
Carmen (Bizet): Habanera
The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart): Non piu andrai
The Magic Flute (Mozart): Papageno's Song
Carmen (Bizet): The Toreador's Song
La Boheme(Puccini): Donde liesta usci- Addio di Mimi
The Magic Flute (Mozart): The Queen of the Night's aria
Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna e mobile
Tales of Hoffman (Offenbach): The Doll Song
Die Walkure (Wagner): Ride of the Valkyries
The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart): Voi che sapete
Madame Butterfly (Puccini): Un bel di vedremo
Xerxes (Handel): Ombra mai fu
Rigoletto (Verdi): Caro nome
Habanera (instrumental)
Non piu adrai (instrumental)
Papageno's Song (instrumental)
La donna e mobile(instrumental)
Voi che sapete (instrumental).