Performers
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor – learn more
Lucas and Arthur Jussen, duo pianos
Kevin McGuire, narrator
Program
Elgar Selections from The Wand of Youth
Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals
Britten The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Program Notes
- CDPHP Family Night, 1pm – learn more
- Pre-Performance Talk, 1pm – See details below
- The Philadelphia Orchestra, 2pm
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS is a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements by the French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Accompanied by accessible commentary, alongside projections of animal drawings submitted by local children, attendees are invited to follow each section of Saint-Saëns’ classic piece while they listen. Young, virtuosic “piano brothers” Lucas and Arthur Jussen will perform alongside the Orchestra following their debut performance the previous evening.
Pre-Peformance Talk, 1pm
30 minute talk with Davyd Booth, member of The Philadelphia Orchestra
Pre-Performance Talks are free for performance ticket holders thanks to generous support from Siena College
REGISTERYou must be attending the performance following the Pre-Performance Talk to attend the talk.
Fun Facts:
- Although it’s one of his most popular works, Saint-Saëns premiered Carnival of the Animals privately. It was written as a piece of fun for friends, and Saint-Saëns even requested that it was never published or performed during his lifetime as he thought the work would diminish his image.
- Even though Saint-Saens didn’t think very highly of Carnival of the Animals, his 14 movement piece has now become a cornerstone of classical music.
- Each of the 14 movements in this piece represents a different animal, including a lion, a donkey, and an elephant, as well as fossils, an aquarium, an aviary and – Saint-Saëns’ little joke – pianists.
Read more here:
- Saint-Saëns – Carnival of the Animals: http://www.classicfm.com/composers/saint-saens/music/carnival-animals/
Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/20VPoxXSEU5USd3UsWNST1
