Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Something to sing aboutHintgen Elementary students perform, learn about opera

A cast member of the Opera The Magic Flute performs for Hintgen Students. Dick Riniker photo

By AUTUMN GROOMS | La Crosse Tribune

Rest easy, the Sun Planet is safe.

The power-hungry Queen of the Night thought she could take it over, but Hintgen Elementary School students defeated her with their upbeat attitudes and beautiful singing voices during a performance of “The Magic Flute.”

Sixteen kids from the South Side school, 3505 S. 28th St., performed onstage Tuesday with professional musicians from Opera for the Young to stage the show for their fellow students.

They practiced four songs from the opera for two weeks with music teacher Deb Michaels during their noon recess and had 45 minutes Tuesday to work with the performers before the show.

“It’s really fun to see the kids,” Michaels said. “They’re really excited.”

Zack Betts, 10, said it was challenging to have such a short amount of time to prepare for his role as Sarastro.

“I was freaked out,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

But the fourth-grader said he enjoyed performing and would like to get involved with a similar production in the future.

“It was just a lot of fun to see how it all happens,” added fifth-grader Megan Elsen, 11.

Opera for the Young brings a genre of music children usually don’t listen to, Michaels said.

“We talk about it and the children appreciate it,” she said.

Jessica Miller, 11, said she liked the music and would listen to it again.

“It’s just different,” the fifth-grader said. “Some of the notes are pretty high.”

Students at Emerson Elementary also performed Tuesday with the traveling troupe. Kids at State Road and Southern Bluffs will have the opportunity Thursday.

The performance at Hintgen was funded by the La Crosse School District and the school’s parent-teacher organization.

Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.