Parents’ Guide to the 2011-2012 Season

While TDO believes that everyone should have access to great opera, not every opera is great for everyone. Some opera contain themes that would be better suited for more mature audiences. To help you determine which opera might be appropriate for your family, TDO has compiled this Parent’s Guide to the Season.

Have questions about attending the opera with your family? See Bringing Kids to the Opera.

Lucia di Lammermoor

by Gaetano Donizetti

Opens October 21, 2011

Performances at the Winspear Opera House

Length of Opera: approximately 3 hours with 2 intermissions

Type of Opera: Dramatic

Sung in: Italian with English Translations projected above the stage

Overview: Lucia, a young girl, is forced to give up the man she loves and marry someone of her brother’s choosing. Lucia eventually goes mad, killing her husband. Her lost love returns to find her dead and kills himself. Read full synopsis.

Opera contains: mad scenes, sword fights, stage blood from stabbings, suicide

TDO Rating: PG-13

Tristan & Isolde

by Richard Wagner

An Opera in Concert

Opens February 16, 2012

Performances at the Winspear Opera House

NOTE: this opera will be performed in a semi-staged concert format using projections for scenery. Costumes will be modern dress.

Length of Opera: approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes with 2 intermissions

Type of Opera: Dramatic

Sung in: German with English Translations projected above the stage

Overview: Tristan is ordered to take Isolde on his ship to meet King Marke, whom she is to marry. During the trip they mistakenly take a love potion and fall in love. The two sneak around and are found in each other’s arms. In a fight, Tristan is wounded and dies as Isolde comes to his side. In her grief she collapses and dies after seeing a vision of Tristan. Read full synopsis.

Opera contains: magic, stage fighting, death

TDO Rating: PG-13