North End Music & Performing Arts Center is thrilled to feature an exciting cast of professional artists from the Boston area and inspiring young singers who will be a part of this year’s NEMPAC Opera Project 2019 Production “The Little Prince” Opera by Rachel Portman based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved French children’s novel by the same name. Co-presented by NorthEndBoston.com, this opera will take place on June 20th and 22nd, 2019 at 7:30 pm, at Faneuil Hall’s Great Hall in Boston, MA. Tickets are going fast and are available HERE.

Directed by Artistic Director Alexandra Dietrich and conducted by Dr. Tiffany Chang, the cast of all ages features Christina English as The Pilot, Jennifer Caraluzzi as The Water, Carley DeFranco as The Rose, Josh Dixon as the Geographer, Fran Daniel Laucerica as The Snake and The Vainman, Gray Leiper as The Businessman, Ehimemen Omigie as The Lamplighter and The Drunkard, Roselin Osser as The Fox, Marcus Schenck as The King, and Luisamaria Hernandez, Patricia Kopko, and Jessica Trainor Tasucu as trio of Common Roses.

Entering its 8th performance season, the NEMPAC Opera Project will present a fully staged opera sung in English, and will include children as in prior productions such as in Don Giovanni (2018), La Bohème (2015) and La Cenerentola (2016). This opera will showcase a diverse group of young singers between the ages of 8 and 14 from Boston and surrounding neighborhoods—members of the NEMPAC community and VOICES Boston—as the onstage chorus of stars. The cast includes two young singers in the titular role of the Little Prince, Clare Cho and Linus Schafer Goulthorpe.

Ten-year-old Linus Schafer Goulthorpe joins the NEMPAC Opera Project’s The Little Prince in his debut performance as the Prince on June 20th.  He lives in Charlestown, has been singing with choruses at NEMPAC and the New England Conservatory (NEC) for four years, and is a piano student as well.

I’m excited to play the Prince because has a questioning personality and he’s curious about the world. Through his search, the Prince meets many different people, some who are thoughtful and some who aren’t, but he learns from all of them. He learns that what matters isn’t power or possessions, but caring for things, like the environment of his planet, and making connections with others like the Fox and his Rose. I’m looking forward to singing with all the adults, especially the Fox because she teaches him that the most important things in life are invisible, like love and friendship. And then he shares that lesson with the Pilot. I like the Prince because he is a good student and a teacher too. He’s a good role model. He sets a good example, that what is important is to be kind.”
— Linus Schafer Goulthorpe, the Prince (June 20th).

Eleven-year-old Clare Cho will perform in her first opera as the Prince with the NEMPAC Opera Project’s production of The Little Prince on June 22nd. She lives in Newton, has performed in a number of Broadway Jr. collections and other musical productions in Newton and Wellesley. She joined VOICES Boston in 2018 to follow her passion for music.

I am excited to be playing the little Prince role. The little Prince is serious in a childish way and it will be challenging to act like that. I feel as though the Prince likes the Lamplighter most of all, out of all the other planets’ residents (except Earth) because he sings together with him. This story is beautiful, sad, and inspiring. I love the music, especially the Vain Man song and the Roses. Because opera does not have children’s roles in it most of the time, it is a one-time experience for me so far! I cannot wait to be on stage, singing with my heart pounding happily to the rhythm.”
— Clare Cho, the Prince (June 22nd).

The NEMPAC Opera Youth Choir, a collaboration of young singers from NEMPAC and VOICES Boston, includes Suvi Carlile, Emeliz Espinal, Lucía Gonzalez Fayos, Erin Han, Georgina Harington, Lillian Kuklewicz, Sophia Lyons, Elizabeth Mann, Samantha Markey, Zoe Nazarchuk, and Phoebe Niese.

As a non-profit, NEMPAC not only provides music education and arts programming to the North End/Waterfront and neighboring communities, but we have provided years of innovative opera performances through the NEMPAC Opera Project. The Little Prince is the perfect opera and vehicle to feature our young, up and coming singers in prominent roles alongside established professionals to unite them in telling this moving story set to lush melodies crafted by Rachel Portman, one of most renowned and awarded female composers of our time.”
— Alexandra Dietrich, NEMPAC Opera Project Artistic Director

Co-Presented by NorthEndBoston.com and an Anonymous Donor, “The Little Prince” production would not be possible without the support and generosity of sponsors including TD Bank, Berkshire Bank, Brookline Bank, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Friends of the Christopher Columbus Park, The City of Boston, and Boston Cultural Council.

To learn more, please visit nempacboston.org/nempac-opera-project.