The producer of this CD is the Children's Group Inc. located in Pickering, ON. This organization has brought together the talents of 14 of Canada's best operatic voices, all of them internationally recognized.

It has also found someone highly qualified to translate the arias chosen for this CD into English that is not only singable, but tells the young listeners what is happening in fairly clear language. The idea behind this CD is to encourage the youngsters to sing along — the lyrics are provided — with these famous artists, but also offers them a chance to make an opera star of themselves by providing several instrumental tracks. That, surely, must appeal to kids, who are so adapt at singing along to a very different kind of music that doesn't offer quite the musical colour these tracks offer.

The CD opens with the aria, Largo al factotum from Gioachino Rossini's ever popular The Barber of Seville in which baritone Gregory Dahl gives a rousing performance. It is a perfect way to start off, especially as Daniel Libman, the lyricist who adapted the original lyrics, has brought out the boastful fun inherent in the song without sacrificing its meaning. This can be said for each of the lyrics he has so suitably adapted for this specific album of opera directed at children. Track 2 features mezzo-soprano Jean Stilwell singing the Habanera from Georges Bizet's Carmen. On Track 5 baritone Brian Banion sings the Toréadors Song from the same opera. Stilwell, of course, is famous internationally for her performances as Carmen and she wonderfully adapts herself to singing the Habanera in English, never missing a beat.

Baritone Allan Monk is featured on Track3. He sings Non più andrai from the Marriage of Figaro, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's take on the famous Barber of Seville, and mezzo-soprano Erin Thrall sings Voi, che sapete from the same work on Track 11. Baritone Daniel Lichti offers his take on Papageno's Song with soprano Suzie LeBlanc from Mozart's Magic Flute on Track4, soprano Aline Kutan takes on The Queen of The Night from the same opera with Der Hölle Rache (note: there is a misspelling of Hölle in the liner notes and on the track listings; the spelling in this review is the correct one) on Track 7.

La Bohème, Giacomo Puccini's opera about artistic life in 19^th century Paris, is represented on this CD on Track 6 by Donde lieta usci, Addio di Mimi, sung by lyric soprano Laura Whalen. Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto is the perfect vehicle for tenor Michael Schade, who sings La donna è mobile on Track 8, and soprano Lambroula Maria Pappas equals him in her take on Caro nome from the same opera on Track14.

The Tales of Hoffmann (again, there is a misspelling of Hoffmann in the liner notes), Jacques Offenbach's delightful, but darkly dramatic, opera based on stories by the German poet E.T.A. Hoffmann is represented on the CD by The Doll Song on Track 9. Coloratura-soprano Tracy Dahl sings the song sung by the doll, Olympia, with considerable expression, and a bit of humor to indicate the dilemma facing her inventor.

Richard Wagner's operas may not quite contain stories children will fully appreciate, but there are some rousing tunes in his creations that will appeal to their senses. The Ride of the Valkyries from his opera Die Walküre (part of his Ring cycle and an opera that is featured in the 2003/4 COC season) is ideal. It is snappy, and while it has little text, the music presents an exciting 2:58 minutes on Track 10. Singing the Valkyries are sopranos Natalie Choquette and Laura Whalen.

No CD about opera can ignore Puccini's Madama Butterfly, or Madame Butterfly as she is called on this CD. This ill-fated romance between a young Japanese girl, Cio-Cio San (or Butterfly) and an American lieutenant in the very early 1900s has given rise to a whole variety of other artistic efforts. On Track 12 Natalie Choquette sings Cio-Cio San's ever hopeful, but ultimately hopeless Un bel di vedremo. I must admit, she managed to raise shivers up my spine, as the song should. One wonders what impact this song might have on young listeners.

George Frideric Handel wrote many operas, but few of them would appeal to children. Yet, here on this CD, countertenor Daniel Taylor manages to show in a brief moment that Ombra mai fù from his Xerxes is well within the comprehension of young ears. It is featured on Track 13. Tracks 15 to 19 are instrumentals of Habanera, Non più andrai, Papageno's Song, La donna è mobile, and Voi, che sapete.

Although this is a Canadian production, the orchestra featured is the Budapest Concert Orchestra MAV, conducted by maestro Tamás Gál. It was recorded in Budapest. The singers' performances, however, were recorded in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg. Thus is the magic of modern recording.

The liner notes include a synopsis of each opera featured on the CD, which will allow parents to explain what happens in the music. There is also a 48-page Teacher's Guide that can be purchased separately and is intended to bring opera alive in the classroom.