San Francisco Opera Education Presents UP IN THE MOUNTAIN, 4/19-23

San Francisco Opera Education presents Up in the Mountains, an interactive performance created for infants to 3 year olds with accompanying parent(s) or guardian(s). Up in the Mountains combines words, song, gesture and visual media to tell a story inspired by fairy tales. Here, adults and children are free to let their imaginations run wild in their interpretations of the story being told. The fifteen morning and afternoon performances take place April 19-23, 2017 in the John M. Bryan Education Studio at the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera in San Francisco. In addition to the 20-minute performance, each 45-minute program includes hands-on activities for children and adults to explore arts creation together, including an instrument petting zoo, sensory bins, craft-making and coloring.

These performances mark the American premiere of Up in the Mountains. Created by Hanne Dieserud and Christina Lindgren in collaboration with composer Maja Ratkje, and performed by Ms. Dieserud, Up in the Mountains premiered in May 2011 in Hamar, Norway, and has since gained international praise on tours to Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greece and England.

Based in Norway, Hanne Dieserud and Christina Lindgren have created three music theater pieces for children ages 0-3 years: Korall Koral - A Baby Opera (2009), Up in the Mountains (2011) and Dragon-zoo(premiering April 2017 in Oslo). Dieserud/Lindgren create performances where children and adults have the same conditions for an experience-nothing needs to be explained to be understood. The shows are a series of events presented with triggers of excitement, humor or tranquility.

In Norway's Gudbrandsdølen Dragningen, Hanne Dieserud explained: "The point is to awaken other senses than when we understand what is being said. I use sounds and facial expressions. Adults can also benefit from experiences that are not supposed to be understood in any particular way."

"The shows aim to appeal to all senses and the fascination for the unknown. We believe that children have the right to art, the capability to experience art, and that it has a positive effect on child and adult to experience art together," said Christina Lindgren. "We are thrilled to present Up in the Mountains, share an art experience together, and experience the response of the San Francisco babies and their adults! Visiting San Francisco Opera with Up in the Mountains is a huge achievement for our small company and we are excited to contribute to the establishment of the genre of performances for children 0-3 years in the United States."

Up in the Mountains is presented as part of San Francisco Opera Education's "First Act" programs designed for families with children ages 6 and younger, and is the program's first offering for this age group. "San Francisco Opera is thrilled to offer performances and activities for babies, toddlers and their parents, grandparents or guardians with Up in the Mountains," said San Francisco Opera Director of Education Ruth Nott. "The Opera has provided family programs for children for a number of years. With the advantage of utilizing the beautiful Bryan Education Studio at the Wilsey Center for Opera, we've been able to expand our offerings to early childhood-aged children with our First Act programs. Adults often brought toddlers to our family workshops even though they were geared for slightly older children. We realized there was a desire for programming for the very youngest, and discovered there are not many arts programs available for babies and toddlers in the Bay Area. About three years ago, we discovered the work ofDieserud/Lindgren, and appreciate the positive child development aspects of their productions. We are thrilled to bring these wonderful Norwegian artists to the Bay Area for their American premiere, and we are excited to now be providing opera learning for all, from babies to adults of all ages."

First Act Workshops are scheduled throughout the year at the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera and the War Memorial Opera House; to learn more about these programs, visit sfopera.com/firstact.

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UP IN THE MOUNTAINS

An interactive performance for families with young children (infant to 3 years)

American Premiere

Presented by San Francisco Opera Education

Concept and direction: Hanne Dieserud and Christina Lindgren

Composer and musical direction: Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje

Scenography and costume design: Christina Lindgren

FOR: Infants to 3 year olds with accompanying adult(s)

PERFORMED BY: Hanne Dieserud

RUNNING TIME: 45 minutes (includes 20-minute performance and several accompanying activities)

WHEN (15 performances April 19-23, 2017):

Wednesday, April 19: 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Thursday, April 20: 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Friday, April 21: [9:30 a.m. - sold-out], 10:45 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 22: 9:30 a.m., [10:45 a.m. - sold-out], 1 p.m. & 2:15 p.m.

Sunday, April 23: [both 9 a.m. & 10:15 a.m. - sold-out]

LOCATION:

Bryan Education Studio

at the Wilsey Center for Opera

Veterans Building (fourth floor)

401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102

ABOUT UP IN THE MOUNTAINS:

San Francisco Opera Education presents the American premiere of Up in the Mountains, an interactive performance for infants to 3 year olds with accompanying parent(s) or guardian(s). It combines words, song, gesture and visual media to tell a story inspired by fairy tales. Here, adults and children are free to let their imaginations run wild in their interpretations of the story being told. The event also includes hands-on activities for children and adults to explore arts creation together. For more information, including a photo gallery, video trailer and interview with the creators, go to sfopera.com/upinthemountains.

"We noticed that some children at the age of only a few months and up to three years old quickly learned how to imitate the sounds that actress Hanne Dieserud was making. Others were simply sitting still, with big eyes and their mouths open - completely quiet and paying attention to all the strange things that were happening 'high up in the mountain'." (Gudbrandsdølen Dragningen, Norway)

TICKETS:

$20 per adult & $10 per child (each attendee must have a ticket). Tickets available at the San Francisco Opera Box Office (301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102) in person or by phone at (415) 864-3330, or online at sfopera.com/upinthemountains.

Limited discounted tickets available for those in need; email education@sfopera.com or call (415) 551-6294with questions. If you are a preschool or daycare center bringing a large group, please call Group Sales at(415) 621-4403 or email groupsales@sfopera.com.

(Photo: Tina Coppe)