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Supported by The Equitable Charitable Trust, BBC Children in Need, Kids Out, JP Morgan Fleming Educational Trust, The Pethybridge Community Fund and The Grocers' Charity.
Wise Eye - A Fox Opera
Wise Eye is a short opera for baritone, violin, piano and children's chorus. The story of the opera follows the life of a fox (Wise Eye) from her earliest playful impressions within the den through the experience of being hunted, trapped but rescued and her ultimate search for sanctuary within a dangerous and urban world. In each section of the piece a human perspective is highlighted by a succession of characters. For instance by a Lord on hunting, a poacher and a tramp on survival, shelter and contentment. The story ends with the accidental death of Wise Eye and a dreamy evocation of the continuation of life, reminiscent of where it began.
The opera was commissioned by Welsh National Opera.
Wise Eye was the culmination of a new cross-arts educational initiative for children in special schools during 2001 and 2002. The project was preceded and informed by a period of research at Riverbank School in Cardiff investigating how the expertise and resources of a world class opera company could be used for the maximum enjoyment and benefit of pupils with special needs as well as their teachers. This culminated in the creation of Wise Eye, a new opera for baritone, violin and children's chorus, written and composed by Richard Chew.
WNO then took a programme of work around Wise Eye into special schools in Newport, Swansea and Cardiff. The pupils in these schools covered the broad spectrum of children with special needs, from the moderate and behavioural to the most profound. The programme of work included a balance of creative activities; learning/listening to extracts of music, interacting with professional singers and musicians as well as an element of textiles and costume design for those with sensory disabilities. At the end of the project in each school, the pupils performed the new commission, centred on the adventures of a fox, for fellow pupils, parents and members of the local community.
“This has been an amazing project for us. It has been something completely new for the children and opened up a whole new world to them. Opera was something they might never have had an interest in but the whole project has brought it all alive for them” Head teacher, Riverbank School.
The project exceeded its original objectives by building on the knowledge and skills of participating children and staff in the areas of singing, movement, design and composition, encouraging personal development, especially with regard to socialisation and teamwork, developing pride in what they can achieve and by providing the opportunity for the schools to work with professional artists.
Wise Eye has since been performed in Bridgend, Llandudno and Torfaen and Leominster. In 2004, it became the basis for a film - Through Listening Eyes made by Richard Aylwin and an amazing group of children and adults with special needs.
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