Korall koral -a baby opera
is a performance specifically created for children below the age of three and their adult companions.
Korall koral – a baby opera is a cooperation between Dieserud/ Lindgren, The Norwegian Opera & Ballet and The Norwegian Touring Theatre. It had Opening Night 4. June 2009 at the Opera House in Oslo and has been staged there for 4 seasons. The production has been on tour for 4 seasons in Norway, visited Sweden, the Faroe Islands, the Netherlands and is now played more than 300 times, for more than 10.000 persons.
The audience are coaxed by noise into a shell-shaped tent in the Opera’s foyer, where two performers with specially designed instruments create music and song. The instruments resemble sea creatures; there are weird creatures such as the sea horse harp, bagpipe creature, glass chime jellyfish and double creature flute. Perhaps we are somewhere below the surface in the Arctic Ocean? There are creatures here we know very little about. There is no linear plot to be followed but rather a series of events with excitement or triggers of excitement, humour or tranquility. The music is composed by Maja Ratkje, who is renowned for her exploration of the voice. We shape sounds to language and song in a musical game.
In this opera babies and adults have equal qualifications. There is nothing to be explained or understood.
Duration: After the 20 minutes performance, children and adults are invited to explore the room and instruments by themselves.
The tent as setting, the scenography a foreign place. A tent provides a feeling of being in a temporary room. This shuts out the outside world and creates an intimacy which gives both children and adults a focus. The tent we bring is easily mounted in the foyers of the operahouses/ theatres we visit. It is constructed to stand without any form of anchoragepoints in the room. It takes one and a half hour to set up or take down and it seat totally 45 persons.
Rewiews:
And then remained still the final day performances of her (the festival composer, Maja Ratkje) baby-opera “Korall koral.” An imaginative game with sounds and movements for 20 minutes in a small tent for children aged 0 to 3 years who has been performed in four countries and seen by over ten thousand children. An opera that creep forward and crawl around in its very own underwater world until it rises from the bottom – like a starfish with a sudden desire for heaven. A horrifying but wonderful wagner moment for the little ones – that alone is reason for an early call also from Stockholm.
Martin Nyström in swedish news Dagens Nyheter review of Båstad Chamber Music Festival 2012
http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/konsertrecensioner/bastad-kammarmusik-festival-1
Aesthetic and mysterious.
A review of ”Korall koral –a baby opera” in Harstad Tidende 24.06.2010 by Rikke Gürgens Gjørum.
We are floating into an oceanic universe and we don’t want to leave even after the show has ended.
The title of the show “Korall koral -a baby opera” asks the audience to use a certain figment of their imagination. The title is to be toyed with. It tells us that both song and ocean sounds will flow across the stage. We just have to sit back and enjoy.
All expectations are without a doubt met. The show has to be viewed with regards to the EU’s “Glitterbird” program, also known as “theatre for children under three.” This is a difficult art form where music, dance and theatre works in a synthesis. The art form is a communicative balancing act on a knife’s edge.
The scenographic set-up with a play tent for the youngest children is functional, aesthetic and mysterious. The peep holes on the sides of the coral shaped tent work as an escape route for the little ones who may suddenly be frightened by strange sounds and colours.
The actors in frail, soft and friendly costumes practically dance lying down or sitting in choreographed patterns. They resemble sea horses, jellyfish and small strange animals we are yet to know the names of. The instruments being used are fictitious– we hear a sea horse harp, a bagpipe-animal, a jellyfish-chime, and a double-animal flute. They are imaginative and associative in their manner.
Maja Ratkje’s contemporary music glues the whole performance together. Sounds and motions magically appear on stage by actors with a great presence. The switch between song, instruments, speech, and background noise flows easily. This flow draws the audience in. We are floating in an oceanic universe and we don’t want to leave even after the show has ended.
Rewiew in Øslandets Blad 04.11.2011 by Christine Margrete Arnesen
A baby looks at the performers and take note of the sounds. I can not help but smile. My expectations are thrown away. This was strange, I think. Different, but wonderful.
Rewiew in Varden 21.09.2009 by Olav Graasvold.
But can small babies, one and two year, follow through on a musical adventure trip that lasts for twenty whole minutes? Sure, they manage it! Tones, sounds, colors and movements kept the young audience in suspense throughout the performance. And indeed so it seemed it kept their mothers too.
Korall koral -a baby opera is the performance called, and is an exciting concept carried through in a beautiful and captivating way.
Rewiew in Østlendingen 29.09.2009 by Knut Fjeld.
Korall koral -a baby opera is most about sound, about the contrasts in the sounds. And in color. And in the movement. The sum is a aestetic experience of total integrated elements that quickly grabbed the attention of the audience.
Interwiew in swedish radio 12.04.2011: Sveriges Radio (in swedish):
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=1012&artikel=4452117
Rewiew in Øslandets Blad 04.11.2011 by Christine Margrete Arnesen (in norwegian):
http://www.oblad.no/underholdning/opera-for-de-aller-minste-1.6590560
Rewiew in Varden 21.09.2009 by Olav Graasvold (in norwegian):
http://www.varden.no/kultur/babyer-pa-havets-bunn-1.333457
Rewiew in Øslendingen 29.09.2009 by Knut Fjeld (in norwegian):
http://www.ostlendingen.no/nyheter/elverum/pa-havets-bunn-8211-i-tredje-etasje-1.4042831
Rewiew in Kringvarp (faroe island television) 30.01.2012 (in faroe island language):
http://www.kringvarp.fo/Archive_Articles/2012/01/30/opera-barnah-dd
Excerpts from the guest book during the tour with The Norwegian Touring Theatre, Autumn 2009
Thank you so much for the sensory and intimate performance. It is huge that someone takes the children seriously and on their terms.
Filip, John and Kristine, Lillehammer.
Just so incredibly sensory, a really great experience for all (adults and children)!!
Tredal Barnehage, Åndalsnes
Wonderful performance. It is great that there is an opera for 1-2 years old, too. Have received only positive feedback from everyone here in Sunndal kommune. Continued good luck!
Siv Grete Bøe, Villabyen Barnehage and Barnehagetjenesten, Sunndalsøra
Thank you for a great and catchy performance. We had a blast!
Vieåsen Barnehage, Førde
What a great show. Helle 18 months, sang along! Awesome toys with exciting sounds. A real highlight. Mum enjoyed herself as well.
Regards Heidi and Helle, Florø
Fantastic performance. The children had a blast.
Grindløkka Barnehage, Nøtterøy
Thank you for taking the trip to all parts of Norway so that we can experience this little gem for children.
Elisabeth and Mathias (22 months), Skien
What a calm and pleasant show. Everyone were captivated and soaked in the ambience. Some even joined in and did the movements. Incredibly great how on target you were for the youngest children. More thanks!!
Fladebyseter Barnehage, Skien
Explosive, funny, strong look – a splendid performance. Number one in my sons eyes – now the interest for theatre is sparked!
Thea and Jeppe, Skien.
Awesome! We have seen Korall Koral for the third time, each performance 2 months apart. Oda has had a great experience each time, in different ways, just as fascinated each time.
Oda Sofie 16 months and grandma Anne Kari, Drammen
Inspiring and engaging show - for the very youngest as well as for the adults.
Students and teachers from Høyskolen in Telemark
Thank you for a great performance - moving and beautiful.
Holmejordet Barnehage, Lillehammer
What a great performance – on the children’s terms! Thanks for the exciting sounds, colours and movements!
Jenny, Bendik and Anton, Otta
It is exciting with something new and different. Got plenty of ideas for the Sensory room we are going to make
Britt Ein Korstad, Husebymarka Barnehage, Stjørdal.
A great sensory experience!
Kleppen Barnehage, Namsos
Awesome performance, and finally something for the smallest people.
Bærtua Barnehage, Lakselv.
A performance with its own charm and style.
We admire you, there is no doubt about that.
Good luck on your trip home.
This ought to be shown to the whole world!
Lomarka Barnehage, Vadsø.