Introduce Your Kids to a Live Metropolitan Opera Performance

Take advantage of bringing your children to witness the outstanding musical talent of the renowned opera singers of the New York Metropolitan Opera. I wish this educational opportunity were available when my kids were young. Listening to a recording of an opera did not grab the attention of my kids. I was lucky if they would sit through one scene.

Today, parents have the opportunity to expose their children to live HD performances of the Metropolitan Opera in their local cinemas. I recently went to the Met's production of Christopher Gluck's, "Iphigenie En Tauride" at a movie theatre in my area. People in the movie theater applauded along with the Met's live audience. Kids viewing the opera from the movie theatre actually feel they are at the Met.

One of the benefits of seeing the opera in the movies is that kids can read the subtitles as the performers sing the opera in a foreign language. This is invaluable because children become involved in the opera as they follow along with the lyrics, giving them a firm grasp on the plot and emotions of the performers.

Opera Intermission Benefits

During the opera's intermission, children and adults enjoy actual interviews with the performers, as well as watching their makeup applied for the next scene. When I attended the performance of "Iphigenie En Tauride" this past weekend, the two lead performers, suffered from head colds. Susan Graham who played the part of Iphigenie talked about how she kept a handkerchief in her bodice in case she had a "nasal emergency" while Placido Domingo who played Oreste sat in his dressing room, drinking tea and popping Hall's throat lozenges into his mouth while having his hair touched up and makeup applied. The personal backstage filming fascinated me and I'm sure children would enjoy a look at what goes on behind the scenes. Kids learn about perseverance as they watch the Metropolitan Opera's performers go on stage even when they are sick, bringing life to the saying, "The show must go on".

Previews for upcoming Metropolitan Opera productions also take place during intermission. It is the perfect time to choose another opera to see, asking your kids, which one looks good to them.

Recommended Age for Children at the Opera

Make sure your children are mature enough to remain quiet during the performance. Each child is different, so use your judgment about how long your children can concentrate on a performance. The usual length of the opera runs from three to four hours with one intermission.

In addition, most opera productions are tragedies, including violent scenes. Although not as graphic as a PG-13 movie, the performers do have bloody make-up for murder scenes and battles. I recommend early teens and up as appropriate ages for attending the opera.
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Personal Experience

New York Metropolitan Opera