Musical Olympics

Musical Olympics

The Athens Olympics are over; now get ready for the Musical Olympics… On Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 September the Auckland Philharmonia presents its annual PhilharMania! school holiday concerts, and on the programme is The Orchestra Games, a delightful piece by self-described "severely eclectic" composer Gregory Smith. This is not just another “get to know the instruments” piece – it explores the various instruments’ personalities and acquaints the listener with basic musical elements as it sprints through an array of Olympic events.

PhilharMania! is an entertaining, hour-long concert for children aged 6-11 years and their families, designed to open the door to the magic of the orchestra. As well as The Orchestra Games, this year’s programme features the finale of Prokofiev’s symphonic tale for children, Peter and the Wolf, where each of the characters in the story is represented by its own instrument and theme; Philip Norman’s The Juggler (featuring Trygve Wakenshaw, a very tall – 6’6” – juggling clown; and Kathryn Lauder’s White Cat. Marc Taddei conducts the orchestra and Robert Edmonds is the narrator.

To complement the concerts, various musicians from the orchestra present “The Music Zoo”, demonstrations of instruments and their players in the foyer before and after the concerts. This is an interactive opportunity for children to watch and listen to a range of orchestral instruments and ask questions of the musicians.

PhilharMania! Monday 27 September – 11.30am, Auckland Town Hall Tuesday 28 September – 11.30am, Bruce Mason Centre Tickets (adults and children) $10 each. For bookings phone 0800-PHILHARMONIA (0800-744 542) or visit http://www.aucklandphil.co.nz

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