Hundreds of elementary school students had the opportunityMonday to enjoy a performance by the Natchez Opera Festival whenthe troupe stopped in Brookhaven for two performances as part oftheir annual tour through Mississippi and Louisiana.

Students at Brookhaven Elementary School and Lipsey MiddleSchool watched in awe as five performers entertained them with”Fair Means or Foul.”

“The Natchez Opera Festival runs for five weeks,” said DonnaSchaffer, director of the education program. “They put on four mainstage productions, and they have their education program, whichreaches 15,000 children in a month.”

The performances here were made possible by the Brookhaven ArtsCouncil, State Bank and Trust, and The DAILY LEADER.

“We’re pleased to be a part of a cultural event like this,bringing new things to kids,” said newspaper publisher BillJacobs.

Children enjoyed 50 minutes of the action-packed opera, completewith a prince, princess, fairy godmother and a villain.

“It’s a modern day fairy tale,” said Schaffer. “It really keepsthe attention of the kids.”

Scenes throughout the performance include fencing, ballet,singing and even karate.

“It’s a wonderful program that reaches students who may not beexposed to classical music,” said Schaffer.

The children ‘oohed and aahed’ and even giggled at times duringthe performance. They also had the chance to talk with theperformers afterward during a question and answer session.