Cute kids

This is rare. I never say that kids are cute, but this story and video clip is. My Texas friend Holly sent me this article about the Houston Grand Opera where she works and their summer camp.

During May and June HGO is holding three Create an Opera camps for elementary-age children and teens in aim to make opera accessible, comfortable and fun. And fun it is according to some of the participants.

"It was hard to see which tune to pick because there are a lot of tunes," said Sidney Primm, 8, who sang the villain of sorts, Tommy Tittlebottom.

The final work was "quite nice," according to Sadie, whose mom works on the opera staff.

But it was no Faust; that opera, about a scholar who makes a bargain with the devil, is Sadie's favorite.

Sidney rated The Power of Words a 6, on a scale of 1 to 10. Not bad considering he gave Mozart a 5 for The Marriage of Figaro. Hansel and Gretel earned a 9, but that production featured a 15-foot witch. Plus, Sidney sang in HGOs children's chorus for that opera.

So getting to like opera is actually a child’s play.