Teacher Resources

The Opera Theater of Northern Virginia has been putting on an annual children's opera for many years and the Guild strives to work with a network of schools, parents, care-givers and teachers to help develop a dynamic student audience.

While attending an opera is traditionally a form of entertainment, we offer an educational experience as well. With group rates for new weekday performances, we strive to make it as easy as possible for you to make opera an exciting compliment to your curriculum based studies.

It is our dream that every child in the metropolitan area will experience --at least once-- a professional opera, not just in a school auditorium, but performed live in a theater with actors, props, set and orchestra combined.

Your contributions are a valuble part of this program and we invite questions, comments and any news of innovative ways you have incorporated opera into your classroom activities.

If you have questions or would like to request a special discount for students who may not be able to afford the performance, we will be happy to work with you. The opera is of interest to students of all ages and backgrounds-- remember that studies show that children who study the arts are more likely to achieve academic success!

Learning To Like Opera

by Dona de Sanctis

How does one acquire a taste and understanding of such a vast, complex art form which has so many different styles, languages, and conventions?

Most people go to a performance, find themselves completely lost and/or bored and decide that opera is not for them. Big mistake. Like any acquired taste, be it oysters or opera, you need to start with SMALL BITES.

  • Pick an opera, preferably a one-act one such as Pergolesi's "Serva Padrona," Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" or any full-length opera by Puccini.
  • Get the "highlights" version of the opera and the entire libretto.
  • Learn the arias, choruses, etc on the highlights version. Listen to the CD on the way to work, while doing your taxes or as you fall asleep at night.
  • THEN get the full opera on CD and learn it the same way....through constant exposure.
  • And finally, go to see it performed.
  • REPEAT...REPEAT....REPEAT....

Opera Study Guides

Opera Vocabulary
Teach your students vocabulary terms related to opera.
Download the Opera Vocabulary Study Guide (PDF File)

Opera Voices
Teach your students the different categories of voices in opera.
Download the Opera Voices Study Guide (PDF File)

Trial By Jury
On Friday, April 4 and Sunday, April 6, 2008 the Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia (OVTN) presents two one act operas, Ralph Vaughan Williams' Riders to the Sea and Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury. Performances of this double feature will be at Thomas Jefferson Theatre, Arlington. Kalle Covert, Lissa Percopo, Michael Barrios, and Miriam Miller created a study guide for Trial by Jury.
Download Trial By Jury Study Guide (PDF File)