Waldorf Students Visit Metropolitan Opera

Waldorf's Class of 2008 at the Metropolitan Opera.

The junior class at the Waldorf School of Garden City visited the Metropolitan Opera on Thursday, September 21 to see the final dress rehearsal of La Gioconda by Amilcare Ponchielli. Based on Victor Hugo's play, Angelo, Ponchielli's grand Italian opera about abusive power and romantic entanglements takes place during the Venetian Inquisition. Through the Met School Membership program, students attended a working rehearsal for a production that had not been seen at the Met in over 15 years.

"Having an institution like the Metropolitan Opera in our backyard, allows us the luxury of annual visits to one of the world's premiere opera houses" said Mrs. Penelope Grover, the school's choral director. "This particular performance was mesmerizing and the students were openly appreciative of the opportunity."

For over 60 years, the Met School Membership (MSM) program has allowed students - many for their first time - to experience a fully-staged Metropolitan Opera production. Dress rehearsals with full orchestra, sets, costumes, make-up, staging and lighting are used, just as in a performance, and the show is generally run without interruption (although occasionally students will have the opportunity to see performers and staff put the finishing touches on the opera).

As part of their "History through Music" Main Lesson course, the students will examine many of the concepts and issues raised in the performance. Music and the arts play an integral part of the Waldorf School's broad curriculum and daily activities. In addition to singing, students in grades 1-8 play recorder as well as orchestral instruments which many continue throughout high school.

An accredited member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and the Association of the Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), the Waldorf School of Garden City is a college preparatory day school teaching early childhood through grade 12. For more information about the school, please call (516) 742-3434 ext. 129 or visit www.waldorfgarden.org. The school will host an Open House on Saturday, October 14, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm.

Waldorf's Class of 2008 at the Metropolitan Opera.