Prelude Opera
Opera for children
Coming SOon: Prelude opera‘s 2023 season!

Artwork by Laura Winslow
The Magic Flute is made possible in part with funding from donors, The Roxanne and Henry Brandt Foundation and UMEZ Arts Engagement, and with public funds from Creative Engagement, administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
This production is an arrangement for children by Roger Brunyate.


An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I’ve left the opera house.
Maria Callas
Photos and Videos by Cursive Films
About
The mission of Prelude Opera is to bring opera to children. From Handel to John Adams and the Marriage of Figaro to Einstein on the Beach, operas contain some of the greatest music ever composed. Opera is a powerful artistic medium that brings together music and theater using one of the most fundamental instruments, the human voice. Learning the language of music has proven to play a compelling role in children’s intellectual development and is essential to one’s emotional well-being. Introducing children to opera exposes them to several of the greatest classical composers in the context of storytelling and theater. By enjoying family-friendly opera at a young age, children can develop a lifelong interest in this stunning musical-theatrical experience. My hope is for Prelude Opera to be a prelude to a lifelong enjoyment of opera and classical music.




Christine Pulliam Melamed
Christine Pulliam Melamed founded Prelude Opera in 2017 with the production of Three Little Pigs. As an opera coach and director, she has worked for the Atlantic Music Festival, Masterworks Festival, Opera Company of Brooklyn and Dramma per Musica. A piano instructor since 1994, she was previously on the piano faculty of the Levine School of Music in Washington D.C. and currently teaches piano and music history at The King’s College. Past solo and chamber performances include the Opus Nine Ensemble, The Washington Sinfonietta, University of Wisconsin, and Malacañang Palace in the Philippines. A fan of new music, she has premiered piano works by Frank Felice and Benjamin C. S. Boyle and an operetta by Joshua Bornfield. A native of Indianapolis, Ms. Melamed graduated from Butler University summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and minor in journalism. She received a Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Maryland and a Master of Music in collaborative piano from The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
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Explore Our Past Operas
Little Red Riding Hood


Little Red Riding Hood was produced by Prelude Opera in 2021. This classic by Seymour Barab was performed in Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan and streamed online.
The Billy Goats Gruff


The Three Billy Goats Gruff is an arrangement by John Davies and was performed by Prelude Opera in 2019. A fun-filled, short family-friendly opera, it uses famous opera tunes by Mozart, Rossini and Donizetti.
The Three Little Pigs


The Three Little Pigs was produced by Prelude Opera in 2017. The opera by John Davies incorporates famous arias and ensembles from Mozart operas.