A new opera for children is to have its world premiere at Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August.
Fox-tot! is a co-comission by Scottish Opera with Royal & Derngate, Northampton for children aged 12 to 24 months.
It tells the story of a little fox sent on an adventure to explore the world and learn to see through the eyes of other creatures, including a cat, a butterfly and a frog.
Composed by former Scottish Opera Composer in Residence, Lliam Paterson, his acclaimed ‘opera for babies’, BambinO, had sell-out performances last year at the Fringe, in Paris and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Sung in English, Lliam’s new work takes inspiration from French baroque dances and contemporary opera.
Scottish Opera’s Director of Education and Outreach, Jane Davidson, said: “Fox-tot! is Scottish Opera’s most recent foray into creating opera for children.
“Building on their BambinO experiences, our babies are now toddlers; discovering a delicately coloured sound world rooted in French baroque, complete with a trio of creatures ready to flit, paddle and scamper through the forest with them.
“Through the music and narrative, Fox-tot! aims to stimulate the little ones’ physical and intellectual curiosity in their surroundings as well as instilling the beginnings of empathy, a critical skill which is arguably the most defining of all human qualities.”
Director Roxana Haines said: “You are invited to join Fox on a journey of transformation, play, and discovery. In this magical world, who Fox will be is up to Fox, and Mother Vixen’s unconditional love is there no matter what.”
Fox-tot! is supported by Scottish Opera’s Education Angels & New Commissions Circle. This project is also part of a Royal & Derngate-led consortium inspiring and supporting the creation of new musicals and operas.
Fox-tot! will be performed at Edinburgh Academy from 2 to16 August. It then goes to Royal & Derngate, Northampton, from 27 August to 1 September, and tours around Scotland in Spring 2020.
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