Alex at the Opera
Last Saturday, I had the joyful experience of taking my one-year-old, Alex, to his very first opera performance. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect — after all, he’s just a toddler, and the thought of a 45-minute show seemed a bit ambitious. But I needn’t have worried, because it turns out my little guy is a total opera fan in the making.
The performance was Cinderella, put on by Opera North at the Cliffe Castle Museum. As a parent, there’s always that little voice in your head whispering, "Will they be too young to enjoy this?" But from the moment we arrived, I could see that Alex was already soaking in everything around him. He’s always had an affinity for music since he was born, and I’m starting to think the womb might have been his first concert venue. When his mum was pregnant, we were both performing in a show together, and she was also attending choir rehearsals and performances. He was surrounded by all kinds of sounds before he even made his grand entrance into the world.
Since then, we’ve kept up the musical immersion, with both of us introducing him to various — percussive and melodic alike. Despite being such a little guy, Alex has an incredible sense of rhythm. He doesn’t just bash at the piano keys like you might expect from a tot; instead, he delicately pokes them with individual fingers, like a mini maestro. I've introduced him to my Yamaha DX synth (he's a big fan of the pitch bend lever) and it’s been amazing watching him discover the joy of shifting sounds, creating new tones, and adjusting the volume up and down. It’s like he’s a tiny sound engineer already!
Mum has raised him on jazz, choral, and electronic music, while I’ve been filling his ears with a healthy dose of opera, classical, and show tunes. Granddad has been on ukulele and harmonica duty! But when the Latin beats come on, you can bet he’s the first to start bopping.
Before the opera began, I took Alex for a little stroll around the museum. The place is full of weird and wonderful exhibits — taxidermy, minerals, and even some Egyptian statues. Alex was particularly captivated by the larger-than-life displays, and his enthusiastic "DADA!" at each new discovery made me grin every time.
When it was time for the performance, we found a cozy spot on a picnic blanket on the front row. As soon as the cello and accordion struck up, Alex’s face lit up. He started babbling in the most enthusiastic sing-songy way, clapping his hands, and bopping up and down in time with the music. At one point he was waving his arms like he was Sir Simon Rattle baton in hand.
When the opera singers began, he was transfixed. It was full-throated, no-holds-barred opera — the kind of powerful, beautiful performance that could make anyone stop and listen — and Alex couldn’t get enough. I think he was particularly taken with the cello, as he kept pointing toward the player with a look of pure admiration. Afterwards, the cellist said Alex was the “most adorable distraction” and how lovely it was to see such a young child so engaged with the music.
I can’t remember my first experience with classical music. It was probably something at school or maybe a hymn or two at church. But seeing Alex so entranced by the sounds and the atmosphere, I realised I can’t wait to see where this musical journey takes him. There’s so much to explore, so many genres, and so many instruments to discover. I’m committed to nurturing this natural love of music and seeing where it goes.
For now, though, it’s lovely to know that my little opera-loving one-year-old is just getting started. So, here’s to many more concerts, performances, and musical adventures with Alex!