The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and The Atlanta Opera have announced a series of free opera performances at four elementary schools in the Atlanta Public School district located in neighborhoods along the Atlanta BeltLine.

These performances of The Atlanta Opera’s Studio Tour production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville are part of the “Belting on the BeltLine” series funded by a Collaborative Innovation Grant awarded earlier this year to the two organizations by The Home Depot Foundation and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. “Belting on the BeltLine” is designed to bring free opera performances to open air locations and schools along the Atlanta BeltLine.

Following the APS school performances, there will be a special free community performance of The Barber of Seville for families on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11am at Historic Fourth Ward Park.

Following are the performance dates and venues:

October 15: Barack & Michelle Obama Academy, Chosewood Park

October 16: Parkside Elementary School, Grant Park

October 18: Finch Elementary School, Oakland City

October 19: M. Agnes Jones Elementary School, Ashview Heights

October 20: Free Community Performance, Historic Fourth Ward Park

Designed to travel, The Atlanta Opera Studio Tour productions are presented in schools and community venues for over 13,000 students across the state of Georgia each season. Educators are provided with comprehensive Study Guides which feature cross-curricular lesson plans and activities corresponding to the Georgia Standards of Excellence.

The 2018-19 Studio Tour features an exciting adaptation of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Opera’s most famous barber, Figaro, plays the role of translator as Rossini’s sparkling, witty score takes center stage. Created by stage director Kristine McIntyre, the 45-minute adaptation will be performed in Spanish and English and demonstrates the power of love to triumph over adversity of every kind.

“Atlanta Public Schools is so excited to continue our musical relationship with The Atlanta Opera this year by bringing The Barber of Seville to four schools on the BeltLine. In addition to the music and theatre concepts inherent in the production, students are engaged in history, math, science, language arts, and world language. We are so appreciative of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and The Atlanta Opera for offering this experience to our students, who might not otherwise be exposed to the greatness of opera,” said Sara Womack, Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools.

“The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is thrilled to continue our collaboration with The Atlanta Opera to make free opera performances available to students at these four BeltLine-neighborhood schools,” said ABP’s Executive Director Rob Brawner. “Connecting with students and staff at Atlanta Public Schools is an important part of the Partnership’s work. Providing free access to this incredible performance art form that many have limited exposure to is a logical extension of that work.”

“Each year The Atlanta Opera reaches over 20,000 students through our educational programming. Partners like the Atlanta Beltline Partnership and Atlanta Public Schools are instrumental to our education program’s growth. We are excited to continue the ‘Belting on the Beltline’ series with free performances for APS schools and for the community at Historic Fourth Ward Park,” said Tomer Zvulun, the Opera’s Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director.