ENTER these enchanted woods was the opening magical song of Siegfried, loosely inspired by Wagner’s The Ring Cycle, and improvised and devised by children with special needs from Exeter House and Woodford Valley schools.

For the last eight months, professional musicians and vocal and dance animateurs have worked with more than 100 children at the two schools to create their own version of Siegfried, including their own script and songs.

With music from composers ranging from Puccini and Handel to director Howard Moody’s own work, as well as an unforgettable finale, the Love Duet and Ring of Fire using music from Faure’s Requiem, this was very much the children’s performance.

The sheer joy on their faces as they acted and sung their parts – the forest goblin Mime, the fiery dragon, the scheming Alberich and, of course, the hero, Siegfried, who saves Brunnhilde from the ring of fire – was so evident.

All these and many other roles were taken by the children, with the part of Wotan, The Wanderer played by professional actor Colin Brown, who seamlessly held it all together in dastardly fashion.

Inspired and inspiring, this wonderful project will hopefully (funds permitting) culminate in the final part of the Ring Cycle, Gotterdammerung (The Twilight of the Gods), next year when, Moody is hoping students from the three previous projects, many of whom are now at Wiltshire College Salisbury, will be able to take part.

* For further information about the project and La Folia, visit lafoliamusic.org.