A few months ago, I had the good fortune of accompanying eighth-grade and first-year high school students to the Teatro Regio in Turin to see “L’elisir d’amore raccontata ai ragazzi,” with a libretto by Felice Romani, adaptation and lyrics by Vittorio Sabadin, and the wonderful music of Gaetano Donizetti. What an incredible experience! Last Friday, it was the turn of the first- and second-grade middle school students to see “The Barber of Seville and the Room of Wonder” at the Piccolo Regio.
Why take kids to the theater, you ask? It seems a bit old-fashioned these days, right? Yet, through these light-hearted reinterpretations and short excerpts, I saw how the kids are gently introduced to a beautiful and fascinating world.
I remember that in “L’Elisir d’amore,” the plot remained faithful, but the main and secondary characters had been relocated to a contemporary high school. This clearly demonstrates that theater is timeless! The original music was intact, and I could see the students enthralled by the strains of the tenors, sopranos, and baritones, reading the overlays so as not to miss a single word. Yes, the music was very different from what they usually listen to, but for some strange reason, it seemed to intrigue them.
Entering the Teatro Regio was a magical moment: the beauty of the historic venue, the elegance of the red velvet seats, and that enormous chandelier hanging from the ceiling—one of the students even asked in amazement, “How do they change the light bulbs?” They were fascinated by everything! During the opera, they actively participated, commenting and cheering for the protagonists. And when the long-awaited kiss finally arrived, the standing ovation was electrifying! A moment of true collective empathy, I must say, truly moving.
For “The Barber of Seville,” we experienced a fun and lighthearted journey, punctuated by slowly fading boxes and delightful arias. It was a lively show, perfect for the kids, who were able to follow the plot with interest and enjoy themselves. Showing them these operas not only entertains, but also offers a glimpse into all the work that goes into preparing a show: the rehearsals, the study, the commitment required to make each performance unique. The kids began to understand the responsibility of the actors and the orchestra. The orchestra, with all its elements playing together and making the theater vibrate, was simply described by the kids as “beautiful to watch”! A moving visual impact.
In addition, going to the theater also teaches you to maintain concentration and silence for a couple of hours. During the opera, there’s no talking, and you have to know when to applaud, thus creating a collective moment of appreciation. Who knows, maybe some of them will return to see other shows. Maybe not, but I’m sure that theater, so contemporary, opens the mind and heart. It’s an experience that nourishes the soul and broadens horizons: and that, believe me, is a precious thing!
Micol Rigoni
