Children's author and broadcaster Michael Rosen was the effervescent compere of this family-friendly CBSO concert which introduced some of the younger members of the audience to the thrill of an orchestra.
The jovial host set children at ease as he introduced a lively first half of classical music associated with some of the best-selling children’s stories from The Hobbit to Harry Potter.
The first section was all about the familiar classics as a casually-dressed and relaxed looking CBSO, led by conductor James Morgan, performed the rousing and confrontational Prokofiev’s Montagues and Capulets (from Romeo and Juliet) to the chaotic and fast-paced The Knight Bus by John Williams from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
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The second half was dramatically different in that Rosen encouraged the audience to help him compose a theme tune for the fictional Mr Enormo Biggins’ Great Fun Park.
We were taken on a musical version of a time machine and the orchestra donned pirate hats, swimming goggles, stetsons and sunglasses as the music leapt from the wild west to intergalactic space.
There were a few pantomime moments as Rosen invited youngsters to throw imaginary orange pips at pirates, make the sound of killer bees and even a soupçon of “oh no it isn’t!”.
But it was a shame we only got to enjoy a brief appearance by soprano Juliette Pochin, whose entrance onto the stage in a fiery red cocktail dress was made to look accidental.
Nevertheless, the concert was a great way of introducing families to the city’s fabulous orchestra.