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Bambini Benvenuti!

Eric Fennel as Roberto Devereux in the School Performance

You’ve probably heard the term “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings.” But actually, opera singers are more likely to be calorie-counting athletes. Believe it or not, becoming a singer is not solely about the voice. Opera singers must learn about a lot of things such as foreign languages, breath control and performance techniques. They must also understand the elements of music, how to use their voices properly, and have a strong desire to be on stage, to act, and most of all, to communicate. This can be difficult work. It takes confidence and a very positive outlook to deal with the business of singing. That is why singers must be physically “fit as a fiddle”.

What is Opera?

An opera is much like a musical because it is a play with music. One of the differences is that an opera is a play in which the story is almost always completely sung. Opera plots are frequently based on literary works and usually performed in the language the opera was written. Opera singers are highly trained and need a great vocal range as opposed to being actors who sing. An opera has singing, acting, music, scenery, costumes, and sometimes dance.

Important Facts and Opera Games for Roberto Devereux

English history is the subject of many operas by Donizetti and he took great liberties with that history. Roberto Devereux takes place during the final years of the Tudor era and is loosely based on the life of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and his relationship with Queen Elizabeth I.

Click here to start the Roberto Devereux interactive material.

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