Burke County students to receive opera lesson

Staff reports

Published: October 22, 2009

Almost 900 Burke County elementary school children and staff will soon experience opera theatre in two performances of "Jack and The Beanstalk" set to selected music from six Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
The two performances will be performed by Opera Carolina Express, the outreach and education wing of Opera Carolina at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Rock School.
Represented in the audience will be students and teachers from Mountain View, Hillcrest, Rutherford College and Valdese Elementary schools.
The cast of singers are Jack B. Nimble, sung by tenor Noah Rice; Mrs. Nimble and the Giant's Wife, sung by soprano Krista Wilhelmsen and the Giant and Trouble Man, sung by bass Byron Barr.
The story of the Giant and Jack is adapted to express deception, suspense, trouble and happiness, all typical attributes expressed in the most popular operas.
The music of British composer Sir Arthur Sullivan and poet/librettist Sir William Gilbert lends a comical and satirical quality to the action which is characteristic of their humorous operettas.
These performances are supported by the Rock School Arts Foundation, and made possible in part by a grant from the Grassroots Arts Program of the NC Arts Council and Burke Arts Council.