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Everyone knows that theater can communicate with the most diverse groups of people because, among other things, it relies on suggestive means of expression and at the same time easily combines all media and art forms. The youngest children are often introduced to the world of art precisely in the theater through many interactive methods, without overly structured concepts, at times without (too much) narration, using the senses, synesthesia and so on, that is, through the most intuitive and inherent means of artistic expression. The MBZ’s Festival for the Little Big Ones, which aims to reach the youngest, has chosen this time a project that will provide a doubly safe shelter of the theater for their first explorations of music, sound but also of dance and other arts. Why doubly safe? The space of the theatrical play is already separated from everyday life as a place where imagination, experiment and unusual expression are accentuated, and the authors of the concept physically demarcated it with a tent, a cocoon, a womb, or whatever you want to call it—a safe space in a safe space, a lap that reminds of a parent’s.
The co-production with the HNK Zagreb is proof that even the biggest "house" can be transformed into a warm space for the youngest. This project of the MBZ, the Little Big Ones, is also the first in the upcoming “Palette musicale” series, which the MBZ wants to carry out in cooperation with the leading cultural institutions of the city of Zagreb. The purpose of the series is to provide children with an interesting and interactive introduction to the basic genres and types of music and music-stage.
Just like in the space of this play, every child has an equal chance to enjoy, but also to create this shared work, so the authors of the concept see their project as a collective effort where each aspect of the work—dramaturgy, costume design, musical performance, etc.—is an equally important piece of the puzzle. Lastly, the authors would like to say the following:
The Opera for Babies has been envisioned as a shared interactive journey of the big little ones and the little big ones alike. It is set up as a live installation, in a pleasant, safe and soft space, and invites children to move freely and explore the world of music, sound and movement, created just for them.
Using the common three-part structure, it begins with the night, quiet, gentle and warm both musically and contentually, continues with the morning, the awakening and birth of light, and ends with the day, the celebration and play. We use babies' familiar everyday routine to help them discover a completely new world. Four female interpreters, each through her own medium (voice, movement, instrument) take us on a journey from dream to play, from dark to light, from abstract to concrete, from voice to word. With this approach, we want to help the big little ones discover the new, already familiar, world of art, while opening up that world to them as a space for play and interaction, a space for freedom and exploration with their every sense.
Let’s dive in...
opera rosa*, for opera voice, two violins, small percussion and electronics
opera for babies (aged: 1–3)
Ivana Đula, Selena Gazda, Tena Novak Vincek, Lucija Stanojević, Irma Unušić, the authors of the project concept
Tena Novak Vincek, music
Ivana Đula, dramaturgy
Selena Gazda, costume and set design
Irma Unušić, choreography
Ivana Lazar / Mima Karaula, soprano
Lucija Stanojević, violin and other instruments
Tena Novak Vincek, violin and other instruments
Irma Unušić, dance performance
co-produced with HNK Zagreb
* première – commissioned by the 32nd MBZ-HDS and HNK Zagreb