What is Opera Express?

Opera Express, Opera Carolina's educational touring company, engages children and families throughout the Carolinas with professional performances of opera for young people. These delightful productions help students understand and appreciate opera as an art form that integrates all of the fine arts and humanities. Performances are tailored to K-5 age groups with study guide activities that address NCSCOS standards in English Language Arts and Music.

Since 1971, Opera Express has served more than one million children with such favorites as The Billy Goats Gruff, An Aesop Odyssey, Pinocchio, How Nanita Learned to Make Flan, and more.

For more information or to request a preview DVD, please contact James Meena at 704.332.7177, ext. 201.

2010/2011 Touring Season

The Billy Goats Gruff

The Billy Goats Gruff

The Billy Goats Gruff is an operatic version of the well-known story based on scenes from operas by W. A. Mozart, G. Donizetti and G. Rossini. The story begins...

Once upon a time, there were three Billy Goats called Gruff. After school one day, the goats were playing a game of hide 'n seek when their fun was ruined - a big bully, the ugly one-eyed troll, had blocked the bridge preventing the Billy Goats from going home.

Remembering what their moms, dads and teachers have told them about dealing with bullies, the two older boy billy goats go home a different, longer way and get help from grown-ups. The littlest of the billy goats, however, shows kindness to the big troll, and when the two boys return with help, the big bully, is now their new friend.

Click the following links to hear excerpts from the program:

Download The Billy Goats Gruff Study Guide for the synopsis, lessons, activities and other information. (PDF download, 3.1mb)

Touring Schedule

Opera Express will be touring in the fall and spring. Please contact James Meena at 704.332.7177, ext. 201 for specific availability.

Teacher and Student Participation

Student participation
The artists provide an introduction and guided Q&A session after the performance.

Teacher Participation
Each performance site receives a Study Guide that provides a synopsis, vocabulary, and other information about the production, as well as a variety of Music and English Language Arts activities. Teachers are strongly encouraged to use the Study Guide before and after the performance.

Arts & Science Council