The delivery of the Project reflects the daily life and rituals of a real opera company
that commission and devise new work.
The participants enter this world completely.
They are treated like professional singers, directors,designers,stage managers,company managers,librarians
and librettists
They take part in rehearsals, auditions,
notes sessions, creative team meetings, collaborative composition sessions, vocal coaching with a repetiteur, and of course learn how to bow graciously!
The project can be done in small modules over a whole school year, term or week. Modules can also be used to provide specific skill focuses for individual schools on a one off, or short term basis. The project works for all age groups from 8 upwards, and is an excellent vehicle for encouraging older children and young people to work as leaders with primary school ages.
The Magic Camera of Candyland
An Opera by
Hannah Abidat, Krystal Bartley, Geoanna Bueno, Chesney Campbell, Chiamaka Ekenachi,
Lisette Enriquez, Amirah Gayle, Chyanne Jones, Reheboth Kidane, Hilina Mackonen, Jada-Lee McDonald, Adaure Onyeji, Melanie Ordonez,
Nadine Otite, Kristen Ralph, Nya Robinson & Monifa Williams
The Magic Camera of Candyland was the first opera to be created using the Baytree Opera Kit.
Its creators were all girls aged from 8 – 11 years old, from the summer university at
Baytree Centre,
Brixton and London
It involved the story of Prince Charming and the mermaid he rescues, a princess who falls in love with a gingerbread man, three shepherds chasing a sheep stealer, an ensemble of sweets,
a river of chocolate, and a chorus of animals and maids.
It is a description of what operatic characters and voices are used for in real operas and is a model for structural and musical styles of composition.
The leaders sing and rehearse it with all the participants who join in both as the chorus and soloists.
They use this experience to write their own opera, based on the same structures – overture, duos, trios and choruses.