LET’S MAKE AN OPERA / THE LITTLE SWEEP
(Entertainment for children and youth)
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Libretto: Eric Crozier

On September 23 and 24, 2022, at The Little Theater “Duško Radović”  an opera for children and youth by Benjamin Britten “Let’s Make an Opera/The Little Sweep”, was performed with great success. This work represents one of the most significant features of Britten’s creativity – bringing classical music and opera closer to young people.

The opera was performed with the license of the publishing house “Boosey & Hawkes” from London. The conductor was maestro Milan Nedeljković and the director was Natalija Stanković, a participant of the project “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!” under the mentorship of Aleksandar Nikolić.

In the first part of “Let’s Make an Opera”, the audience gets to see the atmosphere behind the scenes as the opera ensemble is preparing for the performance. The usual hustle and anxiety, people being late, practicing and worming up at the last moment, various relationships between artists, the last technical preparations and everything else that is typical to the theatre world, but which is unseen to the audience when the curtain rises and the magic of an opera show begins.

The second part is the opera “The Little Sweep”, enchantingly entertaining and witty, it introduces us to the children’s world of honest relationships, devotion and selflessness. The heroes of this story teach us the true power of friendship, how to play, love and do great things when we are united.
Although this play is intended for the youngest, it is equally enjoyed by audiences of all generations.

The idea for the performance of this work came from the project “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!”, which the Music Opera and Theater Organization MOTO and the Little Theater “Duško Radović” are implementing together under the patronage of the Creative Europe. The project aims to connect and improve young opera artists, promote opera art and create a new audience. This performance was created as a result of the dedicated work of young trained singers, directors, conductors, instrumentalists, scenographers, choreographers, and with the mentoring of established artists.

The project goal is to contribute to the development of the opera art through  creative power of a new generation of opera artists and their youthful energy, and with a contemporary approach this will educate a new audience and restore the shine of the opera art in our country.

Translation: Đorđe Kosić
Director: Natalija Stanković under the mentorship of Aleksandr Nikolić
Conductor: Milan Nedeljković
Set designer and costume designer: Tanja Žiropadja
Choreographer: Nikola Pavlović
Assistant conductor: Vuk Wolkov Popović, Nina Rakić
Accompanists: Marko Bogdanović and Dragana Anđelić Bunjac

CAST:

Participants of the project “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!”

Black Bob, a brutal sweep-master: Tamaš Kiš / Matija Arnautović
Clem, his son and assistant: Mladen Prodan / Dušan Dakić
Sam, their new sweep boy, aged 8: Tamara Mitrović / Isidora Bogdanović
Miss Baggott, the housekeeper of Iken Hall: Biljana Jovanović
Juliet Brook, aged 14: Olivera Krivokuća
Gay Brook, aged 13: Katarina Mihailović
Sophie Brook, aged 10: Tatjana Obradović/Sofija Sviderski
(children of Iken Hall)
Rowan, the nursery-maid to the Woodbridge cousins: Ana Gvozdenović/Ružica Miletić
Jonny Crome, aged 15: Jana Jovanović
Hughie Crome, aged 8: Ana Bossert/Tamara Mitrović
Tina Crome, aged 8: Vasilisa Pjevović
Tom, the coachman from Woodbridge: Matija Arnautović/Tamaš Kiš
Alfred, the gardener at Iken Hall: Dušan Dakić/ Mladen Prodan

ORCHESTRA:

Jovana Mijin, violin I
Jelisaveta Zorić, violin II
Marta Petrović, viola
Nebojša Janković, cello
Dragana Anđelić, pianist I
Marko Bogdanović, pianist II
Anastasija Redžić, percussion I
Nikola Veličković, percussion II

Organizer and Stage director: Zoran Lazić
Organizer of equipment/production of performances: Irena Baždar
Lighting design: Vladimir Živanović, Nikola Stevanoski
Sound design: Dragan Petrović
Mask specialist masters: Vesela Sabljić, Milica Ranković
Stage master: Goran Bogosavljević, Nemanja Brajović
Decorators: Jovo Knežević, Predrag Glumac
Wardrobe and props: Velinka Aljinović
Painting and sculpture works: Darko Ivanović, Nataša Čakić-Simić
Costume design: Vesa Karanović
Carpentry works: Aleksandar Spasić
Locksmith works: Nevenko Đukić
Purchaser: Branimir Đurić

MOTO

Čumićevo sokače bb, 11000 Beograd
kontakt@moto.org.rs
www.moto.org.rs
Program director: Nataša Jović Trivić
Program assistant/program organizer: Dragan Stevović
Designer: Jovan Tarbuk
Photographer: Željko Jovanović
Organizer: Svetlana Milutinović
Marketing manager: Ivana Kosovac
Project assistant: Matea Trivić

Little Theater “DUŠKO RADOVIĆ”

Aberdareva 1, 11000 Belgrade
info@malopozoriste.co.rs
www.malopozoriste .co.rs
Director: Aleksandar Nikolić
Organizer of equipment/production of performances (Technical Director): Darko Ivanović
Assistant director of cultural institution /
(Head of Public Relations and Marketing): Jelena Gavrić