MICHAEL P. HAMMOND PREPARATORY DIVISION OUTREACH
The Tiger of Chungshan

In 2005, the Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Division's Outreach Program brings Chinese fable and contemporary American opera to H.I.S.D.'s Bruce Elementary when members of the Shepherd School of Music present Nicholas Scarim's "The Tiger of Chungshan".

The opera is based on a Chinese tale about a child, Chang, who saves a tiger's life after it has been wounded by hunters. But instead of being grateful to Chang, the tiger would rather eat her for dinner! And so they begin to ask the elders in the village whether or not Chang is right - that the tiger should be thankful for Chang's kindness and not eat her, or whether or not the tiger is right - that for him to eat Chang after being rescued by her is just the way of the world.

The Outreach Program is headed by Sylvia Ouellette with the assistance of Shepherd School graduate students Heidi Remick, Alex Friedhoff, and Levi Hammer, the three Brown Scholars who coach chamber music for the Preparatory Program. This group will visit Bruce Elementary several times this year in preparation for the performance of "The Tiger of Chungshan".

The first visit will include a presentation on Chinese culture. Heidi, Alex, and Levi will explore Chinese calligraphy, traditional Chinese architecture, and the sounds of China's traditional instruments and music with the children. During following visits the students at Bruce will learn the main arias from the opera, listening to the fable on which the opera is based, and explore the questions that the opera asks: when should someone be grateful, should acts of kindness be received with gratitude, and the value and respect we have for our elders.

Producing an opera is a lot of work! Not only do the singers have to learn and memorize their music, but they must learn to how their characters will move and behave on stage. The orchestral musicians must learn their music and learn to play well with each other and the performers on stage. A stage crew must design the sets and the costumes for the opera.

Without the help of many talented people, the performance of an opera would be impossible. This production is fortunate to receive the help of Kathleen Kaun, Professor of Voice and Head of the Voice Department at Rice; Debra Dickinson, Director of Opera Studies at Rice; and Graf Imhoff, Technical Director for the Shepherd School of Music.

The Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Division's Outreach Program is extremely excited to be producing "The Tiger of Chungshan". And the most rewarding part of the production will be performing it for the children at Bruce Elementary.