The Witches (opera) facts for kids

The Witches is a special opera made for children. It was composed by Marcus Paus. The story for the opera, called a libretto, was written in Norwegian by Ole Paus.

This opera is based on the famous 1983 book The Witches by Roald Dahl. It was first performed in 2008 at a festival called Gloppen Musikkfest. The singer Tora Augestad played the main witch, known as the Grand High Witch. The opera was even created with her voice in mind!

About the Opera

An opera is like a play where most of the words are sung instead of spoken. It combines music, singing, acting, and costumes to tell a story. The Witches is a children's opera, meaning it's designed to be enjoyed by younger audiences.

Who Created It?

The music for The Witches was written by Marcus Paus. He is a well-known composer from Norway. The words that the characters sing, called the libretto, were written by Ole Paus. He is also a famous Norwegian artist and writer.

The Story Behind the Music

The opera gets its story from the popular book The Witches by Roald Dahl. This book is about a young boy who discovers a secret society of witches. These witches pretend to be normal women but are actually evil and hate children. The boy and his grandmother must try to stop their wicked plans.

First Performance

The Witches opera had its very first show in 2008. This happened at a music festival called Gloppen Musikkfest. The festival is held in Gloppen, Norway. Tora Augestad, a talented singer, played the important role of the Grand High Witch. She was a perfect fit for the part.