The great composer Sergei Prokofiev spent many years outside his Russian homeland, living in Paris and touring the world, including several visits to the United States. Peter and the Wolf, subtitled "an orchestral fairy tale for children", was composed in 1936 after Prokofiev's return to Russia. He should have added "and for grownups too" to the subtitle, for this remarkable composition appeals to people of all ages. The narrator tells a children's story, while the orchestra illustrates it by using different instruments to play a "theme" representing each character in the story: the bird by a flute, the duck by an oboe, the cat by a clarinet, the grandfather by a bassoon, the wolf by a horn, Peter by the strings, and the shooting of the hunters by a timpani and bass drum. It is one of the most frequently performed works in the entire classical repertoire.
Prokofiev produced detailed notes for the piece, stating, "Before an orchestral performance it is desirable to show these instruments to the children and to play on them the corresponding leitmotivs. Thereby, the children learn to distinguish the sounds of the instruments during the performance of this tale." Rest assured that the NCO will obey these instructions to the letter, leading to a fun yet educational concert for the whole family!
Prices:
Adult: GBP 17.50,
Child: GBP 12.50,
Family of Four: GBP 50.00
Artist: Northern Chamber Orchestra