David Chesky
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An Opera for Children
POLAND - USA - TAIWAN
The Krakow Opera
Krakow, Poland
"Truly sensational!"
Poland Classics
National Symphony Orchestra (NSO)
Taipei, Taiwan
"David Chesky uses music to tell a story about love & peace,
it's a wonderful imaginative journey, highly recommended"
Zhao Ziqiang, Children's Theater, China
Teatr Muzyczny w Poznaniu
Poznan, Poland
"The Mice War is one of the rare opportunities for children
to engage in contemporary classical music,
young viewers were pleased, and some downright thrilled!"
Katarzyna Kaminska, Cultural Poznan
Orchestra Miami with The Florida Grand Opera
Miami, Florida
"A hit with its target audience"
The Financial Times
Bargemusic Chamber Music Festival
New York, New York
Do you know why Cheese is Yellow?
The Mice War is an Opera for children that teaches about the absurdity of war and acceptance of cultural diversity while exposing them to classical music.
This is a little story about the industrious Blue Mice that live in the North
and the passive Red Mice that live on an Island way in the south.
The Blue Mice need to make more money so they decide they need to have a war.
The reason for the war?
The Blue Mice eat blue cheese and the Red Mice eat yellow cheese.
What would happen if the Red Mice came and made the Blue Mice eat yellow Cheese???
The Mice War
Krakow Opera
Krakow - Poland
Director: Robert Drobniuch
Stage design and costumes: Anna Hadaj
Conductor: Yaniv Segal
Starring:
Mezzo-soprano: Agnieszka Rehlis
Tenor: Adam Zdunikowski
Baritone: Stanislaw Kufluk
Krakow Opera
The Mice War
NSO - National Symphony Orchestra
Taipei - Taiwan
Stage Director Shi Pei-Yu
Conductor Chang Yi-Fan
Starring:
Chou Ming-Yu’s narrator
Chang Sheng-Jay
Chen Wei-Yu
Li Yixuan
NSO - National Symphony Orchestra
National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center
The Mice War
BargeMusic
NY - USA
Director: Scott Parry
Conductor: Ransom Wilson
Starring:
Shon Sims
Sean Anderson
Sarah Jane McMahon
BargeMusic - New York
Reviews:
"The Mice War, or Of Brave Albert and Yellow Cheese"
Krakow Opera:
The project was truly sensational. Kudos to the composer, director, and performers. I left feeling more than pleased, and judging by the reactions of the audience, I wasn't the only one.
The opera I saw in Krakow was written in 2009. The Mice War's surprises begin with the music. The well thought-out, not at all easy tune reminds me a little of some of Stravinsky's pieces-the music is very modern, but despite this is not irritating or overly simplistic. At times, it is melodic and rhythmic. It's interesting to listen to, as well as being appealing to children, and it is performed by an eight-member chamber ensemble.
The opera's plot, which also contains spoken parts, takes place in a world of two mouse kingdoms. In one of them, a key part is played by General [Puszka], a dangerous militarist. He wants a war with the second kingdom, led by King [Medrek]-a wise, peaceful ruler. Everything ends happily-among others thanks to the efforts of Albert, a rebellious student. The libretto is engaging, skillfully translated into Polish, and easily understood.
The singing and acting of the soloists was excellent. Overall, it was a truly good modern performance. David Chesky, who was present at the Krakow premiere, was given a long ovation by the audience.
Marcin Kaczmarczyk , Poland Classic's
"The Mice War works for two reasons. Firstly, it is one of the rare opportunities for children
to engage in contemporary classical music, and secondly, it is accompanied by an ambitious educational project. The message of the play also brings important content.
And most importantly - young viewers were be pleased, and some downright thrilled!"
Katarzyna Kaminska, Cultura Magazine, Poznan, Poland