Alexander Valley School students were treated to an hour long version of Rossini’s opera, “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) last week, and some were even able to perform in the show.
Crowded into a classroom at the school, students (and a few parents and grandparents), watched intently as performers from the San Francisco Opera Guild’s “Opera a la Carte” program acted out the major roles in the tale of the misused stepsister who meets a prince.
AVS students from Colleen Flores’ class auditioned for and were able to participate in the play, mostly in non-speaking roles like the mean stepsisters.
Siena Rolleri, an 11-year-old sixth grader and a member of the audience, said she was impressed by the singing and how the singers were able to change their voices during the performance.
Rolleri said she recognized that the performers had to work hard to prepare for their roles. “They have to take a lot of breathing tests,” Rolleri said, who added that she intends to sing more often herself.
Peggy Maddock a retired AVS teacher, helps coordinate the “Opera a la Carte” performances throughout Sonoma County each fall, noted that the program is funded by donations. To find out more about the program, visit www.sfopera.com
