opera for my 3 yr old?

[guitarmama]

My 3 yr old dd likes a Disney short called "Willy the Operatic Whale" and is really into the music. She runs around the house singing "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro". I was thinking about checking The Marriage of Figaro out of the library for her, and I was wondering if there were any other operas that she might enjoy. Any ideas?

[AuntNi]

I'm with your daughter - that is such a fun aria. It's from The Barber Of Seville by Rossini. (Marriage of Figaro is about the same characters, but is the second story in the series, and the opera is by Mozart.) I think that Barber would be entertaining for a 3 year-old, but Marriage of Figaro would not.

The other opera that immediately comes to mind is Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach. The last act is scary, but I remember my toddler being transfixed by the doll's aria. And the Queen of the Night's aria from Magic Flute is incredible.

You know what she might really like? Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Metropolitan-O...9233353&sr=1-5

It's all "greatest hits," sung by the greatest singers of the century (except Pavarotti, who was a no-show.) I love compilations for little ones, because they don't have to sit through the boring stuff. Heck, sometimes I get bored at the opera, and I've got two dang degrees in opera!

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Good luck!

[guitarmama]

oops, totally showing my opera ignorance. Thanks for the suggestions!!!