Customer Reviews

The World's Very Best Opera for Kids...in English!

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I wasn't sure if my kids, ages 5 and 10, would take to this CD, but what a wonderful surprise! Everyone has their own favorite: the five-year-old especially loves singing Figaro. The ten-year-old's favorite is The Queen of the Night's aria. My favorite is Caro Nome from Rigoletto. The opera synopses themselves aren't suitable for sharing with the kids, but the songs out of context work for all ages. There are also 5 instrumental versions so we pretend we're opera singers. This is great fun, particularly in the car. Their grandparents love it, too!

It really doesn't get much better than this CD. The primary benefit of the music is that it is a terrific selection of funny and touching arias from the classical genre. I am an opera lover and bought this for myself to memorize the words in English, as prompts when I listen to the pieces untranslated. I started listening to the CD while I was driving, and within a week had bought about a dozen CDs to distribute to family members and friends, with kids (and without). Everyone loves it. And at the end of the CD are several tracks of just the music, so you can sing along, which is a hoot. Your friends and colleagues, who hear you barking along to beats, will think you have taken leave of your senses. The lyrics (in English) are in the liner notes. I would suggest not reading the liner notes while driving.

Second CD benefit. The time you spend listening to this will be the equivalent of an afternoon at the beach or a walk in the mountains. The calming factor is amazing.

I have to admit, though I recognized all the tunes,(from movies, advertising, etc.) I never thought I would like opera. But in English, with these great translations, its amazing. This isn't just for kids; this is for anyone who wants to finally enjoy these great songs (arias?) and really understand them.

I just wish this had been around when I was a kid.

I listen to this with my 3 year old and we both enjoy it. I am not an operatic expert and to my lay ears the performances here sound great, and my daughter likes hearing the words to some of her favorite music ("Play the Torreadores again Mommy!") Its a nice break from some more traditional kids songs that we listen to.

THE WORLD"S VERY BEST OPERA FOR KIDS is a collection of fourteen of the best loved arias in the world. The whole family will enjoy this CD, which is a unique version of these famous arias in that these are all sung in English so your child (and you) can appreciate and imagine the story that it illustrates. It is a wonderful introduction to opera and will have the whole family humming the memorable melodies, which are sung by some of the best of famous voices. You will be inspired to read the storylines of the operas to your children for a wonderful educational and delightful family hour. The CD includes an insert with the words so you can sing along

I never had an interest in opera until I made a trip to Italy and dined in an opera cafe. I appreciate it even more thanks to this CD. Now that I can hear the lyrics in english and read a synopsis of the story, I appreciate and enjoy opera even more.

This is a GREAT CD! Both the children and my husband and I love it. We bought it as an introduction to opera for our homeschooled children, and never guessed we'd all enjoy it so much.

All the tunes are ones you will probably recognize - but hearing the words that go with the music and hearing them in *English* is so helpful! It has been really fun to find out what these songs are really about.

My kids and I often catch ourselves singing opera through the day now, which is really neat. It has helped build their understanding of music in many different ways, and has improved my oldest daughter's voice ability as she strives to keep up with the professional singers on the CD.

The music is beautiful, the words are lovely and give meaning, and this whole CD is just exceptionally good entertainment!

With the lyrics translated into English, these fine performances of child-friendly opera tales are an excellent way to introduce younger generation ( or even oldsters )to the world of opera. We have purchased this for a few of our grandchildren and intend to give more as gifts in the future.

I am pleased to say that this CD is truly a joy! Our children ages 10, 3, and 6 months love listening, singing, and tapping along to the music. What a treat... You will not be disappointed!

I love this CD and can't wait to use it with my music students when school resumes. Opera is always a difficult subject to create affinity for...this will be extremely helpful!