Opera at primary school
Children from Larkhall will take to the stage next year as part of the Scottish Opera Primary Schools Tour.
Robert Smillie Memorial will have youngsters from P5 to P7 performing in Warriors! The Emperor’s Incredible Army.
They will rehearse and perform the opera, which recounts the tale of the terracotta warriors of Xian.
It tells the true story of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, who was determined to cheat death and rule over his country forever. Over many years, Qin Shi Huang assembled an army of 8000 soldiers, horses and chariots to watch over him in the afterlife. The warriors were all armed to the teeth, but made entirely of clay.
Composed by Alan Penman with lyrics by Ross Stenhouse, pupils learn the opera’s words and songs in their own classrooms and are then helped by the Scottish Opera team to prepare for a performance in front of pupils, friends and family.
It allows them to learn in an exciting, creative and challenging way, further developing their music education. Performing in front of an audience instils a confidence that will continue to help pupils in the future, whatever path they follow.
Teachers from schools which have already taken part agreed that the Primary Schools Tour broadened the children’s cultural experiences, improved team work skills, increased cultural confidence as well as singing ability, and supported the aims of Curriculum for Excellence.
Scottish Opera’s director of outreach and education, Jane Davidson said:“our annual Primary Schools Tour is one of the longest established programmes at Scottish Opera – every year over 9000 children across Scotland take part in these performances with many more thousands of friends and families coming to see them in action.
“We continue our work with the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools (CISS), bringing back Warriors! The Emperor’s Incredible Army, which tells an important story from China’s history.
“Pupils get to exercise their creative muscles and experience the added confidence and excitement that comes from performing for an audience of their peers, family and friends.”
Scottish Opera will be at Robert Smillie Memorial Primary on Friday, February 21.