Recent comments by Timothée Chalamet sparked a swift, brutal, and often hilarious response across the global arts sector. Speaking during a discussion about the future of cinema, he remarked that he wouldn’t want to be working in ballet or opera because they are art forms people say we need to “keep alive… even though no one cares about this anymore.”
Artists, audiences, and organisations rightly pointed out that ballet and opera remain vibrant, widely attended art forms with global audiences and deep cultural significance. But beyond the headlines and the social media responses, there is a deeper and more important question for those of us working in music and arts education: how do we prevent our pupils from forming opinions like in the first place?
Comments like these rarely come from malice. More often, they reflect distance from the art form itself. Opera, ballet and classical music can easily be perceived as “not for me” if young people never encounter them in meaningful ways. If the only time a child hears opera is through a stereotype, or sees ballet referenced only as something old-fashioned, it’s hardly surprising that they assume these art forms are irrelevant. And, to be honest, watching a massive Hollywood star openly call them irrelevant won’t help either….!
Appreciation doesn’t happen automatically. It happens through exposure. Children who sing opera choruses, explore orchestral instruments, compose their own music inspired by classical works, or watch dancers rehearse are far more likely to see these art forms as living, creative practices rather than museum pieces. In other words, if we want the next generation to care about these art forms, they need to encounter them positively during childhood.
The good news is that teachers don’t need huge budgets or specialist equipment to make this happen. There is an extraordinary range of free, high-quality resources available to schools, and I’m going to share with you a few of my favourites below.
Aurora Classroom
Created by the Aurora Orchestra, Aurora Classroom provides creative teaching resources designed to help pupils explore orchestral music through listening, composing and performing activities. The materials are practical, engaging and designed for classroom use.
BBC Ten Pieces
The BBC’s Ten Pieces is one of the most widely used classical music education programmes in the UK. It introduces pupils to (far more than 10 now!) major orchestral works through films, lesson plans and creative challenges that encourage composition, performance and discussion.
Royal Opera House
The Create & Sing programme from the Royal Opera House helps primary pupils explore storytelling through music and singing. It connects directly with opera’s core elements: character, drama and musical expression. Also from the Royal Opera House, Create & Dance introduces pupils to ballet and creative movement. Through structured activities, pupils explore ballet through choreography, rhythm and expression. The Royal Opera House also runs a series of schools matinees so you can take your class to watch opera and ballet live; these are always over-subscribed so get in quick if you want to secure tickets!
Inside the Music
Produced by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Inside the Music allows pupils to explore orchestral repertoire by examining how the music works and how musicians bring it to life in performance.
Ultimately, the question raised by this debate is not really about one celebrity’s opinion. It’s about cultural capital. Young people who grow up with meaningful musical experiences are far less likely to dismiss entire art forms as irrelevant. Instead, they develop the ability to appreciate a wide range of artistic expression, from film and pop to opera and symphonic music, and beyond. Because the real goal is not to make every child love opera or ballet, it is to make sure no child grows up believing it’s ok to state that any art form is not worth caring about.
Dr Liz Stafford, March 2026. Copyright © 2026 Music Education Solutions Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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